E Edition - September 2020

Fashion, Jewelry, Home Design & Real Estate

fall style guide

Chagrin Documentary Film Fest

Rock Hall celebrates its 25th Anniversary

Benefit Beat (The Pandemic Edition)

INSIDE

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Northeast Ohio’s First Social Network

VOLUME 36, ISSUE 2 | SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

A2 CURRENTS September 17, 2020 www.currentsneo.com

ON OUR COVER Northeast Ohio’s First Social Network The primary mission of Currents is to feature and spotlight the nonprofit, arts, educational and cultural organizations so vital to Northeast Ohio, as well as the volunteers and philanthropists who guide, support and sustain them.

With many people and families spending more time working, learning, studying and entertaining (socially distanced) at home these days, those who have looked around and planned for even minor upgrades to their spaces have realized that small changes can offer a big lift in spirits! Such is the case with the artistically beautiful bathroom sink featured on our cover this month, guaranteed to leave anyone feeling fantastic about spending more time at home. Available at Welker McKee, Kohler’s Dutchmaster Blush Floral Vessel sink delivers a bold statement to any bathroom space. Inspired by Dutch Master paintings of the 17th century, the graceful floral pattern and the sink’s dark backdrop evoke artistic elegance. Visit www.welkermckee.com to arrange an appointment to experience a multitude of sink options for your home.

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DEPARTMENTS

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BOOKS & MUSIC The house that Rock built: new book chronicles birth of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

By Barry Goodrich FILM Chagrin Documentary Film Festival to celebrate 11th anniversary with festival format set, COVID style, October 6-11

By Barry Goodrich BENEFIT BEAT Nonprofit organizations innovate and adapt to raise needed funds through COVID-19 pandemic

By Cynthia Schuster Eakin and Rita Kueber AT HOME Beautiful Paskevich-designed home for sale in Novelty

By Rita Kueber

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JEWELRY & WATCHES Watch for richly detailed and colorful styles for fall 2020

By Lauri Gross

B

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HOME DESIGN From outdoor spaces to durable performance fabrics… and luxurious dining rooms to cozy, relaxing bedrooms…it’s time to prepare at home for the cooler seasons ahead

By Lauri Gross and Paris Wolfe REAL ESTATE Northeast Ohio’s real estate market is HOT! The time to move is now, according to area realtors

P.O. Box 150 • Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022 • 525 E. Washington Street • 440-247-5335 / Fax: 440-247-1606

www.currentsneo.com Published monthly by the Chagrin Valley Publishing Company H. KENNETH DOUTHIT III Publisher AMANDA PETKIEWICZ

KELLI COTESWORTH MCLELLAN

Creative Director and General Manager

Editor

SEPTEMBER EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS: Cynthia Schuster Eakin, Barry Goodrich, Lauri Gross, Rita Kueber, Paris Wolf PHOTOGRAPHERS: Peggy Turbett ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Nancy Kelley, Alana Clark, Tobe Schulman AD DESIGNERS: Connie Gabor, Ashley Gier

Please call 440.247.5335 for editorial, advertising and deadline information. Currents is distributed in: Auburn, Avon Lake, Bainbridge, Bath, Bay Village, Beachwood, Bentleyville, Bratenahl, Brecksville, Chagrin Falls, Chesterland, Cleveland Heights, Fairview Park, Gates Mills, Hudson, Hunting Valley, Kirtland Hills, Lakewood, Lyndhurst, Moreland Hills, North Royalton, Orange Village, Pepper Pike, Rocky River, Russell, Shaker Heights, Solon, South Russell, Strongsville, University Heights, Waite Hill, Westlake, Akron, Copley, Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn, Hinckley, Montrose, Peninsula, Richfield and Silver Lake.

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FEATURES

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FASHION The Top Ten Must-Have items to add to your closet for fall 2020

By Lauri Gross

EDITOR’S NOTE There was a brief time of suddenly feeling lighthearted and almost “normal” that I experienced while reading and editing Currents this month. As the stories and photographs were rolling in from our reporters by email, I was simply and refreshingly taken aback by two, written

by Lauri Gross, about fashion, jewelry and accessories trends for fall 2020. Fashion and jewelry … imagine!

Our September issues used to feature a full section (or at least several pages) of the latest and greatest in fashion, jewelry and accessories for fall. So reading those particular stories this month took me back to a time when things seemed more “normal” … a time when we ventured out (sans mask and hand sanitzer) to shop for work or special occasion attire, such as we used to wear at the office or to weddings, benefits, parties or a night out on the town with friends. It should come as no surprise that the fashion trend for fall 2020 can be summed up in one word – casual. Comfortable and casual, yet stylish and fashionable, of course. We’ve wrapped it up in a “The Top Ten Things You Need for Fall 2020” package on pages A8 and 9, with some tips for organizing your closets for the upcoming seasons, too. Jewelry and watches featured on page A12 are always beautiful and timeless, and if not for yourself, these items serve as the perfect birthday, anniversary, or “just because” gift for a special someone in your life.

COVID-19 has challenged and forced most all of us to adapt and find new ways of conducting business.

At Currents, it’s most likely evident to our loyal readers, perhaps, in the dearth of Benefit Beat coverage since March, when large gatherings were banned, forcing Northeast Ohio’s nonprofits to pivot and innovate in order to find new ways to raise funds in support of their various missions and outreach. No more hugely attended grand galas filling the beautiful spaces at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Severance Hall or Playhouse Square for now, anyway, and for who knows how much longer?

So, we asked Benefit Beat reporters Rita Kueber and Cynthia Eakin to reach out to several area nonprofits to find out how they have approached fundraising through this pandemic, which is reported on pages A10 and 11.

Many have held virtual events with great success, and others have planned smaller gatherings with creative ways of safely gathering outdoors, serving boxed dinners drive-through style. We applaud the innovative and creative ways that Northeast Ohio nonprofits have quickly responded through this public health crisis in order to do their very best to continue raising needed and important funds for the many causes they serve in Northeast Ohio.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in Cleveland, with special exhibits and events planned to be experienced and enjoyed, and Barry Goodrich reports on page A5 about a new book entitled, “The House That Rock Built: How it Took Time, Money, Music, Moguls, Corporate Types, Politicians, Media, Artists and Fans to Bring the Rock Hall to Cleveland” by Norm N. Nite. It’s billed as a fascinating look at the backroom dealings, false starts and eventual breakthrough that led to the opening of the Rock Hall on September 1, 1995.

The Chagrin Valley Documentary Film Festival rolls into its eleventh year October 6-11, so documentary film fans should read page A6 to discover what’s planned for this perennially popular event.

Home design and real estate can be found in Section B, with emphasis on outdoor spaces for fall, performance fabrics for busy families now spending more time at home, and dining rooms and bedrooms since soon the cooler weather will soon have us hunkering down indoors, maybe beginning to prepare for small gatherings of family and friends with the holiday season approaching in the not-too-distant future. Area Realtors report in this section that the real estate market in Northeast Ohio is hot … some great news in the midst of a pandemic, so if you are planning a move, Realtors say now is the time! ~ Kelli Cotesworth McLellan www.currentsneo.com September 17, 2020 CURRENTS A3

The Chef’s Garden returns to its roots by serving home cooks into a blender and puree until smooth. (Alternatively, you can use an immersion blender.) Strain the soup through a fine mesh strainer into a clean saucepan. Reheat if desired and serve.

The soup can be refrigerated in an airtight container overnight or frozen for up to 2 months.

By CYNTHIA SCHUSTER EAKIN Tough economic times put a strain on even the most successful businesses. The Chef’s Garden, located in Huron, OH, has opted to go back to its roots.

Businesses across the country have had to change after the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Because The Chef’s Garden sells its farm product to one of the hardest hit industries in the country, the restaurant and hospitality business, the farm team had to find a new avenue for its produce.

Farmer Lee Jones of The Chef’s Garden said recent business changes were sparked by desperation. “When customers like Disney and all of the restaurants in New York City shut down, you have to do something. Home delivery was something that we had been thinking about for some time. This was the motivation that we needed to start.”

Because the pandemic first hit during Ohio’s cold winter months, the farm began selling and shipping boxes of fresh vegetables directly to homes. “Everything stopped like a light switch. We had the product here. People wanted to support some place that needed support. It seemed like a natural,” Jones said.

To provide families with the food they enjoy, The Chef’s Garden planted sweet corn for the first time in 35 years and tweaked its mix of produce to satisfy the home cook. And, for the first time in nearly four decades, the farm stand is open.

“We were using the old farm stand as an irrigation storage shed. We had to power wash it, patch up some of the old boards and then we gave it a fresh coat of paint,” Jones noted. “The community has been so appreciative.

The fact that we have not opened the farm stand before was a miss on my part. It took a catastrophe for us to see that. The farm stand will be here to stay. Home delivery will be here to stay.”

“I have been pleasantly surprised by the farm stand.

I’m used to thinking of our customers as being chefs and restaurants. The other day, a man stopped by in a truck, wearing work clothes. He told me that he was interested in trying our squash blossoms because he had a recipe. He was a genuine home cook,” Jones said.

“Squash blossoms truly have a special place in my heart,” he added. “This is the product that led us to first grow crops for chefs, so it’s only right that it will be at our farm market as we come full circle.” Farmer Jones said the squash blossoms are kept in refrigeration, so that they do not wilt, and are featured at the stand along with other unique products like gourmet lettuces, baby kale, little cucumbers with blooms, edible flowers, fresh herbs, microgreens, cut honeycomb and fresh honey from the farm’s hives. “And, people know that it is all fresh that day. Executive Chef Jamie Simpson from the Culinary Vegetable Institute has been providing videos on ways to use our products,” he said. The farm stand also offers items from neighboring farms as a help to other small farms during an unprecedented time.

Jones admitted that no one wanted the events of 2020 to happen, but added that, “out of the ashes of this or anything that’s totally devastating, new things will come about. Out of the ashes will come a new way of doing business and a new way of thinking. We will never go back to what we were before March of this year. Those businesses that can adapt and change will survive. Those that can’t, won’t. Our team is fighting back.”

“I have always said that our sales team is one of the most knowledgeable in the country. Customers appreciate the fact that they can call in their orders and talk with a live person,” Jones said. “We are trying everything that we can to provide value to people who appreciate it. We all have to work together.”

Jones said that church groups and corporate entities have been gifting vegetable boxes from The Chef’s Garden. “The Escoffier School ordered 500 boxes for their staff. They just ordered another 300 boxes for their online

Summer Squash Tart

The Farmer Lee Jones Farm Market provides unique and delicious seasonal produce for home cooks. Photograph courtesy of The Chef’s Garden students. I’m going to Zoom with the students and open the same box of vegetables at the same time they do. We will talk about sustainability and letting Mother Nature dictate your menu. You get the highest quality and the best value when you use product that is in season,” he said.

“We are doing an Airbnb at the Culinary Vegetable Institute, if people are looking to book someplace that is COVID safe and they don’t want to stay in a hotel. They literally have the run of the grounds,” Jones added.

The Chef’s Garden and Pure Bred are collaborating on a line of premier Provision Packs featuring the best of the farms. The one-of-a-kind boxes feature vegetables from The Chef’s Garden and protein from Pure Bred. New versions of the Provision Packs are being showcased by chefs like Chef Jamie Simpson and Chef Thomas Keller.

Chef Simpson’s Provision Pack comes with his recipe and ingredients for lettuce wraps with Elysian Fields ground lamb. Chef Keller shares his tips for outdoor grilling and making salads with ingredients sourced from farmers whose businesses have been decimated by the pandemic.

Home delivery is offered through the www.farmerjonesfarm.com website. The site was created to streamline the process for home delivery. Boxes can be ordered ahead and picked up at the farm stand. Or, customers can choose to have boxes delivered on a recurring basis, weekly, biweekly or monthly. Chefs and home cooks looking for more unique items can continue to shop on the www.chefs-garden.com site. The Chef’s Garden farm market is at the corner of Scheid and Huron-Avery roads in Huron. It is open on Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(Recipes courtesy of the Culinary Vegetable Institute at The Chef’s Garden)

Smoked Tomato Soup INGREDIENTS: ½ pound smoked bacon, diced 1 sweet onions, cut into small dice

A4 CURRENTS September 17, 2020 www.currentsneo.com

½ bulb garlic, cloves thinly sliced ⅛ cup (20g) all-purpose flour 28 ounces (794 g) heirloom tomatoes 1 pint (1/2 L) chicken stock 15 cracks black pepper 2 bay leaves, preferably fresh 4 full sprigs of thyme ½ cup (120Ml) heavy cream ¾ teaspoons salt, plus more to taste DIRECTIONS: In a large saucepan, cook the bacon over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and the fat is partially rendered, about 12 minutes. Add the onions and garlic and cook until translucent, about 8 minutes.

Sprinkle the flour over the onions and cook, stirring to incorporate, for 2 minutes; reduce the heat if the flour starts to brown. Add the tomatoes, chicken stock, black pepper, bay leaves, thyme springs, heavy cream, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer over medium low. Simmer for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Remove the bay leaves and thyme and let the soup cool to warm. Working in batches, ladle the soup

INGREDIENTS: ½ lb of Summer Squash 1 sheet of Puff Pastry 1 Egg 3 oz parmesan or other hard cheese, shaved thinly with a vegetable peeler 1 tbsp of pesto, homemade or store bought 1/2 small red onion, sliced as thinly as possible 2 lemons, zested and Juiced 1 tsp dry Oregano 4 Sprigs of Thyme, picked ¼ cup olive oil Salt to taste Black Pepper to taste Micro Herbs to taste DIRECTIONS: Preheat Oven to 400F In the meantime, allow the puff pastry to thaw for about 30 minutes.

While this is happening, wash and dry the squash.

Carefully use a mandoline to slice the squash lengthwise into thin strips that are the width of a quarter. If you do not have a mandoline, you can use a sharp knife to slice bias cuts of the same thickness.

Again using the mandoline or sharp knife, slice the red onion as thinly as you can.

In a mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, thyme, dry oregano, lemon zest and juice, and a heavy pinch of salt.

Whisk these ingredients together until the oil is dispersed in small droplets. Add the shaved squash and onion to the bowl and toss well. Allow the vegetables to marinate while you carry on with the rest of the process.

Crack the egg and add ½ Cup of water. Whisk together.

When the pastry has tempered enough to handle, transfer it to a baking tray lined with an oiled baking mat.

Brush the top side of the pastry with egg mixture and bake until golden brown and crisp, about 15-20 minutes.

Pull the pastry from the oven and place on the counter. Allow it to cool for about 10 minutes before brushing with the pesto over the entirety of the surface. While the Pastry cools, remove the marinating vegetables from the bowl and allow them to drain on a plate.

After brushing the pastry with pesto top it with the vegetables and cheese. Crack black pepper over the entire item and return to the oven until the pastry is warm and the squash just starts to bubble.

Remove the tart from the oven and transfer it to a cooling rack. Allow it to cool for a couple minutes before transferring it to a cutting board and portioning into 6-8 pieces.

New book chronicles birth of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

By BARRY GOODRICH Legendary rock and roll DJ Norm N. Nite and singer Leslie Gore first met on the set of the Mike Douglas Show in 1968. They soon developed a friendship that would one day serve as the major reason the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame landed in Cleveland.

“Leslie is one of the unsung heroes of the Rock Hall,” said Nite. “Without her, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame would not be in Cleveland today.”

When Gore learned a group of New Yorkers were planning on building the Hall in the Big Apple, she got in touch with Nite, who had previous discussions for a Cleveland location with everyone from Dick Clark to Agora owner Hank LoConti. Nite was able to get his foot in the door with the New York delegation led by Atlantic Records executive Ahmet Ertegun and the rest is history.

And what a history it is. Nite’s new book “The House That Rock Built: How it Took Time, Money, Music, Moguls, Corporate Types, Politicians, Media, Artists and Fans to Bring the Rock Hall to Cleveland” is a fascinating look at the backroom dealings, false starts and eventual breakthrough that led to the opening of the Rock Hall on Sept. 1, 1995.

Co-authored by Tom Feran and published by the Kent State University Press, the book was released earlier this month to celebrate the Rock Hall’s 25th anniversary. It is the ninth book authored by the 79-year-old Nite, who once hosted the largest nighttime radio show in the nation in New York City.

Bringing the Hall to Cleveland was no easy task.

Smoothing out the details and meeting the demands of music executives and state and local politicians took time. “We could have lost it at any time,” said Nite. “Now it has become the signature of Cleveland. It’s been a tremendous plus for the city.”

One of the biggest events leading up to the city securing the Rock Hall was a 1986 reader’s poll in “U.S.A. Today” that asked where the Hall should be located. Cleveland won in a landslide.

“This was never a slam dunk,” said Rock Hall presi-

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary, a total of 13 million fans have visited the Rock Hall since its opening in September of 1995. dent and CEO Greg Harris. “The public-private partnership and the fans of Northeast Ohio really made it happen. And today, 25 years later, we are honored to stand on the shoulders of those founders.”

The economic impact of the Rock Hall has exceeded original expectations. In 2017 alone, the Hall was responsible for $127 million in business sales in Cuyahoga County, nearly double the original public investment of $65 million. A total of 13 million fans have visited the Rock Hall since its opening.

And while the pandemic has resulted in the cancella-

tion of a live induction event in Cleveland this year, the ceremony returns to the city next fall. The Rock Hall is extending live music in the plaza through the end of this month and its “Play it Loud” exhibit in partnership with the Metropolitan Museum of Art will run through the end of the year.

It is only appropriate that “The House That Rock Built” is available in the Rock Hall gift shop (as well as in local bookstores and Amazon). “This book is not about Norm N. Nite,” said Nite. “It’s about the city of Cleveland and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”

Bruce Springsteen’s ’69 Chevrolet Chevelle cruises into Rock Hall Museum The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has installed Inductee Bruce Springsteen’s 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle, representing one of the most iconic car lyrics in music history. Once owned by The Boss, the car can be found on the museum’s lower level.

The Rock Hall is open daily 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with social distancing guidelines. Tickets must be purchased online in advance at rockhall.com.

The car is on loan to the Rock Hall from Toby Scott, a sound engineer who worked on 18 of Springsteen albums, including “Darkness On The Edge of Town,” “Born in the U.S.A.,” and “Tunnel of Love.” Springsteen gifted the Chevelle to Scott in 1988. “[It] is a car [Bruce and I] had driven around New Jersey on many an occasion,” recalls Scott.

“Although not the inspiration for the song ‘Racing in the Street,’ [that song’s] opening lines describe it exactly: ‘I got a ’69 Chevy with a 396, Fuelie headers and a Hurst on the floor…”

In addition to Springsteen’s car, the Rock Hall has recently opened up new exhibits, including the 2020 Inductee Exhibit honoring this year’s class (Depeche Mode, The Doobie Brothers, Nine Inch Nails, Notorious B.I.G., T.Rex, Whitney Houston, and Ahmet Ertegun honorees Irving Azoff and Jon Landau) and “It’s Been Said All Along: Voices of Rage, Hope & Empowerment” spotlighting how artists throughout generations, from Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke and James Brown to Public Enemy, Rage Against the Machine and Miles Mosley, have used music as a platform for social justice.

Gift of 50 ukuleles to Cleveland Clinic Children’s keeps beat going during Covid-19 The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Encore Apparel Company, and Ukulele Kids Club are giving back to the community and teaming up to provide 50 ukuleles to Cleveland Clinic Children’s patients to keep them smiling during those quick and not-so-quick hospital visits.

Finding a way to keep the beat going during Covid-19, the ukulele donations include a virtual tutorial by ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro. Join Shimabukuro as he teaches basic chords and performs one of his favorite songs, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee George Harrison.

“This gift has the potential to impact these patients’ lives far beyond their hospitalization,” said Christine Bomberger, music therapist at Cleveland Clinic. “When children learn to play the ukulele during their admission, it becomes a new skill they can use to get through difficult times and express themselves. Then, when they are able to take these ukuleles home, those skills become a part of their daily life.”

Cleveland Clinic Children’s was one of the first recipients of the Ukulele Kids Club, which has donated close to 10,000 ukuleles to 200 hospitals worldwide and teaches patients to use music to express emotions and aid the healing process. Both the Ukulele Kids Club and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame have a longstanding relationship with the hospital and with Encore Apparel Company are amplifying the impact locally.

Greg Harris, President & CEO, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, said: ““Music is a powerful force. The ukuleles offer a new and exciting experience for children who may never have had the chance to play an instrument before, while at the same time being very beneficial.”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which provides music therapy, education programs and resources to hundreds of thousands each year, offers free online resources at Rock Hall EDU, including ways to incorporate stringed instruments into lessons, and a Rock N’ Learn: The Letter U activity sheet. The Ukulele Kids Club also offers free monthly ukulele lessons from leading ukulele players through their UKC Academy events and a free online UKC Resource Portal with easy to play lead sheets using the color-coded string system.

Casey Paton, Co-Founder, Encore Apparel Company, said: “Through our brand we’ve been committed to helping provide a better experience for kids – no matter what personal challenge they may be facing. Since launching Encore six years ago we’ve tried to use our creative business to make a positive impact in the world - namely with a focus on young people and music. We are beyond excited to launch this donation with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in support of the incredible mission of Ukulele Kids Club and their commitment to sharing the gift of music therapy.”

A passion for music is the major thread running through Encore Apparel Company and the overall inspiration behind the brand. Their Play It Loud: 50 Makes 1 program was launched to provide the gift of music to kids at local hospitals. For every fifty items the company sells, one free ukulele is donated. The expansion of the company’s 50 Makes 1 program to include support for the Ukulele Kids Club’s RockStar program and music therapy at Cleveland Clinic will be promoted via Encore’s newly released line of 216 hats and t-shirts that are now part of their broader LOCAL collection.

“It would be hard to think of an institution more closely aligned with our priorities than the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” said Stephanie Epstein, President of Ukulele Kids Club and Board-Certified Music Therapist. “We recognize the absolute power of music to enhance lives and seek every opportunity to bring this magic to kids in need. We are thrilled and honored to be brought together with this great global institution, to help Cleveland Clinic Children’s, and to continue our work with hospitalized kids.”

About the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Rock Connects Us. Our mission is clear: To engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock & roll. We share stories of the people, events and songs that shape our world through digital content, innovative exhibits, live music, and engaging programs. Join the millions who love it as much as you do. Experience us live or online – Visit rockhall.com or follow the Rock Hall on Facebook (@rockandrollhalloffame), Twitter (@rockhall), Instagram (@rockhall) and YouTube (youtube.com/rockhall). Long Live Rock! www.currentsneo.com September 17, 2020 CURRENTS A5

Documentary Film Festival set for October 6-11

By BARRY GOODRICH The Chagrin Documentary Film Festival is alive and well and set to mark its 11th anniversary Oct. 6-11 with a hybrid of streaming and drive-in screenings.

With LED screens at two outdoor venues, the CDFF will be able to offer in-person viewing as well as athome streaming options. Films will be shown at Riverside Park in Chagrin Falls as well as Drive-in Docs screenings at the parking lot behind Chagrin Cinemas in Bainbridge.

The festival, which drew crowds of over 13,000 last year, received a $50,000 CARES Act grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Despite the new format, the festival has been named to MovieMaker Magazine’s “Top 50 Festivals Worth the Submission Fee.” The CDFF’s opening night film is “Playing with Fire: Jeannette Sorrell and the Mysteries of Conducting,” a documentary of Cleveland’s critically acclaimed Apollo’s Fire ensemble. The film, directed by two-time Academy Award winner Alan Miller, will screen as both a Drive-In Doc feature and a streaming selection on Oct. 6.

“We’re trying to keep our volunteers safe and our audiences safe,” said festival director Mary Ann Ponce.

“We’re also supporting the local merchants and the Chagrin Cinemas in any way possible.”

Festival goers will be encouraged to purchase Fest to Go boxed lunches and dinners from Chagrin Falls restaurants. Menus will be available online at the CDFF site.

The festival is utilizing the same streaming company used by the Cleveland International Film Festival to stream 101 films throughout the week. “We’re all about sharing these wonderful stories…more than anything, we want people to experience them,” said Ponce.

The Chagrin Jaycees will also be donating manpower for the drive-in movie events at Chagrin Cinemas by directing traffic. An estimated 70-80 carloads will be able to gain entrance to those screenings.

The festival will once again offer membership pack-

Studies show that acute stress and anxiety are taking a toll on everyone due to COVID-19. Take control of any stress in your life by creating a daily routine that soothes anxiety, increases mental focus, and boosts immunity at the very start of each day.

Create a Morning Meditation Ritual

Having a grounded and calm constitution will help set the tone and energy for your day. By ritualizing the practice of meditation each morning you will become more present with yourself, therefore allowing you to meditate both deeper and longer.

• Pick a time each morning when you will be able to meditate consistently with no distractions.

• Choose a location that you can use every session.

Symbolize the beginning of your meditation by lighting a candle or turning on soothing music to allow your brain to calm and focus.

• Set a timer for 10 minutes, sit as tall as possible, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. If your mind wanders, notice your thoughts and then bring your focus back to your breathing.

Practice Yogic Breathing Mary Ann Ponce at last year’s Chagrin Documentary Film Fest. This year’s event will feature Drive-In Docs at Chagrin Cinemas, films at Riverside Park and will offer a hybrid of at-home streaming options and drive-in screenings. (Photograph courtesy of CDFF) ages ranging from $100-$10,000. Memberships include reserved parking for the Drive-In Docs, Films in the Park, Fest to Go food boxes and extended CDFF streaming that allows members full access to films in their own homes. Five-day streaming passes are available to everyone.

“The Chagrin Documentary Film Festival is needed

more than ever in our community,” said Chagrin Falls Mayor William Tomko. “This festival brings in much needed stimulus to our restaurants and merchants and, more importantly, also brings us together to discuss important topics in diverse times.”

For CDFF membership and donation information, visit www.chagrinfilmfest.org.

Renovations provide bright future for area seniors With a 60-year history of serving Chagrin Valley seniors, Hamlet at Chagrin Falls is long-established as an active independent living and assisted living community, perfect for retirees who enjoy the village lifestyle. According to Lesley Humpal, Executive Director of Hamlet at Chagrin Falls, “Many of Hamlet’s seniors come here to live so they can walk back to town and continue being active.”

As Hamlet continues to grow and evolve, Humpal and her team pay attention to what residents are looking for in a senior living community. “We have such an amazing campus of intellectual, involved, bright people who tell me what they want, and all I have to do is listen,” Humpal said.

Their input is part of what led Hamlet toward its $2 million revitalization and renovation plan. First taking care of structural and safety updates, the community has also moved forward with contemporary aesthetics and

Feeling Stressed?

Judson encourages you to incorporate these steps into your morning routine

enhanced amenities. “Our residents are thrilled to have new living quarters and a refreshed place to call home,” Humpal said. “It’s a beautiful thing that we could do this because we know our residents and the greater community take such pride in Hamlet.”

The community’s picturesque location overlooking 47 wooded acres of the Chagrin Valley provides a beautiful backdrop for its newly renovated residences. One resident, an avid birdwatcher, has written a book detailing the various species he has spotted since moving to Hamlet. Residents particularly enjoy being surrounded by nature, yet a close stroll away from Chagrin Falls’ charming downtown.

A member of the Chagrin Valley Rotary Club, Humpal strives to create mutually beneficial relationships with local business and organizations. “For our part as a company, we’ve continued to grow, providing jobs to the local economy and partnering with local businesses,

civic groups and arts organizations,” she said. Hamlet also selected local contractors whenever possible for its renovations.

Certain parts of the renovation have been put on hold until the threat of coronavirus is less severe, and the community has faced other difficulties due to the pandemic. However, Hamlet residents, staff and their families have come together to support each other during this time of uncertainty.

The strength of the community will be further bolstered by its revitalization efforts, ensuring a bright senior lifestyle for future generations. “When you come into Hamlet, you don’t notice the apartments. You notice the people on their porches, talking to each other and building friendships.”

Call 440.561.6466 or visit hamletretirement.com for more information.

Increasing the oxygen supply to your lungs and body leads to a decrease in stress and anxiety levels. However, most people unknowingly are shallow breathers, meaning they breathe quick breaths that only fill the upper chest. Instead, yogic breathing focuses on taking deep and complete breaths, which can pull in up to seven times more oxygen than shallow breathing.

• Utilize the Three-Part Breath: Place one hand on your stomach and the other on the side of your ribs.

• Slowly breathe in and focus on first filling your belly with air, then your ribcage, and lastly your upper chest.

As you exhale, reverse the order.

• Be sure not to force your breathing, as your lungs should feel full but not strained.

Stretch It Out!

“Sometimes, especially in the mornings, we may feel tight, achy, and stiff. We hold most of our stress in our face, neck, and shoulders,” says Rosanna Eliser, a Fitness Specialist at Judson Manor. “A good technique is adding stretching to your morning routine to release tension in the body” • “Start with simple neck stretches: Inhale, exhale lower your head forward chin to chest, back to center, turn your head right and lower chin down towards your right shoulder.”

• “Repeat to the other side. Hold each for about thirty seconds. Take in long deep breaths and release all the tension in the face.”

• “Open and close the jaw. Then let your lips part and the tongue float to the roof of the mouth.”

Adding these simple steps to your morning is a great start to reduce the effects of stress on your mind and body. Try out all three, or just one, and create your own unique routine that allows you to start each new day refreshed and relaxed.

DIVING INTO E-LEARNING

Asian Lantern Festival returns Due to popular demand, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo announced it is extending its Asian Lantern Festival presented by Cleveland Clinic Children’s through Sunday, September 20, 2020.

The one-month extension includes additional dates to experience the full walk-through event as well as a drive-through option.

“With significantly reduced capacity at this year’s Asian Lantern Festival for the safety of our guests, many nights of the festival have sold out,” said Kelly Manderfield, Cleveland Metroparks Chief Marketing Officer. “The Zoo and our partners at Cleveland Clinic Children’s want to give everyone the opportunity to experience this year’s truly unique event in the way that they are most comfortable with.”

The festival was initially scheduled to conclude Sunday, August 23. Due to demand, the Zoo first expanded the festival by adding a drive-through only experience on Mondays and Tuesdays prior to today’s announcement. This year more than 75,000 guests have already visited the festival.

Now in it’s third year, Asian Lantern Festival is bigger than ever with more than 70 never-before-seen lantern displays, new acrobatic performances on the Fifth Third Bank Stage, interactive experiences and culturally-inspired cuisine. This year’s festival also includes the Dinosaurs Around the World experience, featuring 20 enormous animatronics along Waterfowl Lake. Dinosaurs Around the World will remain an as add-on Zoo experience through the end of the year.

To allow for proper social distancing, the Zoo will continue to limit attendance each night of the festival.

Reservations are required for the drive-through experience and highly recommended for the walk-through experience. In order to protect against COVID-19, the Zoo has implemented several additional safety measures including one-way directional flow through the event, handwashing stations and frequent sanitation of Zoo grounds. Guests are required to wear facial coverings during their visit unless they are participating in the drive-through experience.

Tickets are now available online. Advance tickets for the walk-through Asian Lantern Festival are $18 per ticket for Zoo members and $20 for non-members. A 4-pack is available for Zoo members for $54 and nonmembers for $60. For the drive-through experience entry is $54 per car for Zoo members and $60 per car for non-members. Guests will not be able to exit their vehicle during the experience. Visit FutureForWildlife. org/lanterns for more information.

The Greater Cleveland Aquarium (FirstEnergy Powerhouse, West Bank of the Flats, 2000 Sycamore Street, Cleveland, OH) is launching its first wave of virtual programming for classroom, homeschool and family learners. While the focus of each of the new online offerings vary—ranging from adaptations to habitats, ecosystems and conservation, the Education Department is making sure that every program is an interactive, place-based experience that brings STEM learning to life through the Aquarium’s exhibits. “We want to continue to foster that sense of wonder and curiosity that accompanies any Aquarium visit,” explains Education Director Erin Carpenter. “All of our programs are live, so young learners can see a shark, stingray, skink or other animal in real-time and ask an educator their questions about its appearance or behavior in that moment.”

Online family programs are about 25 minutes long and are available throughout the week at 9:30am and

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1:30pm. Pre-registration is required. Ranging from $12 - $25 per household, the number of total log-in slots available will be limited to ensure everyone attending the program has a chance to participate. “Because these programs largely take place before we’re open to the public, they’re almost like private VIP tours with an expert,” says Carpenter.

Virtual field trip topics include Aquatic Story Time (pre-kindergarten - 1st grade), Habitat Exploration (kindergarten - 2nd grade), Aquatic Adaptations (3rd - 5th grade), Shark Conservation (6th - 8th grade), Shark Exhibit Encounter (available for all grades), Stingray & Coastal Encounter (available for all grades), Animal Cameos (available for all grades) and Full Virtual Tours (available for all grades). Class learning experiences range from 20 – 60 minutes and are based on Ohio’s Learning Standards.

On-site family homeschool options—Diets and Food Chains; What is Conservation?; Coral Reefs;

and Camouflage & Hiding (kindergarten - 3rd grade), and Enrichment; Plastic Pollution; Squid Dissection; and Biomimicry (4th - 8th grade)—include same-day Aquarium admission. “Seeing the Aquarium in-person or participating in a program online can be complementary activities,” says Carpenter. “You can start your learning journey at home before visiting or you can come here and enhance that physical experience with an online program.”

Field trips, homeschool and family programs are posted through the end of 2020, but Carpenter anticipates the calendar will continue to evolve and grow in the months ahead. “Virtual programming is new for many of us—schools, families and museums,” she says.

“We’ll get feedback, discover what’s popular and learn how to shape and expand on these opportunities.”

For more information, visit greaterclevelandaquarium.com or call 216.862.8803.

An interior view of the Samson Pavilion, the 477,000-square-foot centerpiece of Case Western Reserve’s Health Education Campus, where the first of three presidential debates between Donald Trump and Joe Biden will be held on Thursday, September 29. Photograph courtesy Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic and CWRU’s Health Education Campus in spotlight for first debate

By BARRY GOODRICH On Thursday, Sept. 29, Cleveland will become the focus of the political world when the Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve’s Health Education Campus hosts the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

The debate will be held in the Samson Pavilion, the 477,000-square-foot centerpiece of the campus. The facility opened last summer to bring medical, nursing, dental medicine and physician assistant students together for a collective learning experience. The campus is home to the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, The School of Dental Medicine and the School of Medicine, including the Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner College of Medicine program.

“It’s a perfect fit for our institution and a perfect fit for Cleveland,” said Case Western Reserve University provost and executive vice-president Ben Vinson III. “This debate will be focused on health in a time when the world is wrestling with the challenges of COVID. We are absolutely excited to have this in a space dedicated to an integration of health services.”

The first presidential debate had been scheduled at the University of Notre Dame, which withdrew as a host site after COVID-19 issues. Dr. James Merlino, the Cleveland Clinic’s chief clinical transformation officer, was already serving as security advisor to the Commission on

Presidential Debates so the move to Cleveland seemed a natural choice.

“This has been an extraordinary opportunity that presented itself to us,” said Vinson. “We have this gleaming new building that has become the perfect stage.”

This will be the second debate hosted by CWRU. In 2004, the campus staged the vice-presidential debate between Dick Cheney and John Edwards. This time, there will be a small physical presence inside the Pavilion with the majority of the media stationed in surrounding locations. Viewing projections for the debate exceed 100 million.

“We’ve got several dozen joint teams meeting multiple times a week,” said Vinson of debate preparations.

“We’ve been working with the Clinic since 2013 and they operate at an extraordinary level of detail. There will be a lot of expertise in one place.”

CWRU has a hybrid learning program in place for its first semester with freshmen and seniors on campus while most sophomores and juniors will be studying remotely.

“Our students are excited about this, they’re charged up,” Vinson says. “This campus is going to be alive and our students from around the world will be dialed in.”

The next debates include the vice-presidential debate Oct. 7 at the University of Utah, the second presidential debate Oct. 22 at Miami, Fla. and the third and final presidential debate Oct. 22 at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.

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Update your wardrobe this season with these 10 must-have items for fall

By LAURI GROSS

Colorful variations on leopard print tops will be big this fall. Get this one at Kilgore Trout.

Photographs courtesy of Kilgore Trout

Chances are you’ve been spending a lot of time on Zoom calls and not much time going to your favorite places while wearing your favorite things. Despite that – or maybe because of that – you’ll want to check out some great new fall fashions to freshen up your wardrobe for yourself, for Zoom, for small backyard gatherings or for when things start to return to normal. Here are 10 fashion must-haves for fall 2020.

“Every way we look at fall is kind of colored by what’s happening with Covid and how it impacts our customers and the world,” said Sherri Knuth Bryan, who owns Knuth’s in Pepper Pike, with her husband, John. “We expect it to continue to be a very casual-fashion fall.” Sherri said lounge sets and activewear sets were popular even before Covid. “Now it’s becoming really huge,” she said as she explained that the most popular fashions are comfy and cozy but also hip and fashionable.

1) Lounge sets.

2) Activewear sets.

Andrea Pierce-Naymon, women’s wear buyer/owner at Kilgore Trout in Eton Chagrin Blvd. agrees. “Since many customers are still working from home, we are gearing up for more casual clothing yet acceptable for Zoom business meetings,” she said. “Cashmere is always a staple for fall as the weather turns to sweater weather.”

3) Cashmere sweaters.

Andrea is also seeing a lot of printed tops with lots of brown and green. “Prints will be bold and lots of variation on the famous leopard print,” she said.

4) Printed tops in shades of brown and green.

5) Printed tops with variations on a leopard print.

In addition to selling about 10,000 masks (from one of Knuth’s U.S.-based clothing manufacturers), Knuth’s is seeing a rise in the popularity of tie dye. “We feel it will continue through fall,” said Sherri who explained that her store has tie-dye clothing and accessories. Also, since many people are spending as much time as possible outdoors, Sherri said, “cozy boots and waterproof shoes and cool looking hats and scarves and outwear will be even more important.”

6) Tie-dye clothing and accessories.

Stay fashionable and cozy this fall with these cute boots from Sorel, at Knuth’s.

7) Cozy boots.

Kilgore Trout’s new jackets include some from Europe. “We are excited to bring back our knitted jackets by Circolo from Germany” Andrea said. And, color is everywhere in fall clothing. “Our US designers like L’agence, Veronica Beard, Rag and Bone and Vince are showing lots of colors,” she said.

8) Knitted jacket.

As for bags, Sherri said totes, backpacks and cellphone bags are all popular now. “They work for your life, whether you’re throwing stuff in your car or you’re toting it in a backpack or going on a walk and you just want to fit a mask and phone and keys in a small bag.”

9) Small bag for taking the essentials on a walk.

Andrea said Kilgore’s new handbag from the L.A.based Meyers Collective is very chic “It has an element of jewelry to it,” she said.

10) Chic handbag.

As for dressy clothes, Sherri said Knuth’s is definitely not ignoring it but she doesn’t “expect dressy to be important for a while.”

When you just need a mask, a phone and keys to take on a walk, this cross-body bag from Knuth’s will do the job while looking great.

Organize your closet for the upcoming seasons Fall is the perfect time for a periodic purge of your closet. “A lot of people want to change out their wardrobe seasonally,” said Cindy Coulter, sales manager and senior designer at Closet Factory in Parma. “Fall is a good time to do that to make room for new fashions,” she added. “It’s not only about having space for everything but having everything accessible, so that’s where good design comes into play.”

With Cindy’s help, many of her clients set up their closet like a boutique to create a feeling of shopping in your own closet. “Any size closet works,” said Cindy.

“It’s about having everything properly organized and using every inch of space.” Closet Factory is all about creating custom solutions so the options are endless.

Closet Factory offers more than 30 colors of melamine, as well as painted or stained wood products. They also offer many hardware options including the popular look of matte gold. Many of Cindy’s clients add a fancy chandelier, lighting, and glass doors to enhance the boutique feeling.

Must-have accessories include a telescoping valet rod for putting together outfits, a belt rack, tie rack, laundry hamper, and jewelry drawers.

Closet Factory offers in-home design consultations, plus virtual and hybrid appointments. Either way, clients often remark that they had no idea they had so much space and they often tell Cindy they wish they had called sooner.

With a chandelier, glass doors and everything in its place, this custom-designed closet, created by Closet Factory, feels like a boutique in your own home. Photograph courtesy of Closet Factory

Enjoy Dinner Under the Tent or Dining Room

Thursday, Friday, Saturday • Dining Room and Tented Patio Open

CCSEPT20

(for full dinner service) Reservations encouraged. Two seatings: 5-6:45 pm 7:15-9 pm Curbside available. For reservations, curbside, and carry out cocktails: Call: 440-247-0444 Email: Smcsherry99@hotmail.com For online reservations Visit parisroombistro.com

A8 CURRENTS September 17, 2020 www.currentsneo.com

Valley Art Center celebrates 50-year anniversary

Looking to get organized? Closet Factory can provide custom solutions for your entire home. Custom closets, home offices, wallbeds, pantry, entertainment centers, laundry rooms, craft rooms, mudrooms, garages and more! Call CLOSET FACTORY at 216.362.4660 for a free design consultation or visit closetfactory.com for more details.

In 1971, in the tiny village of Chagrin Falls, a group of local artists came together in the shadow of turbulent times to make spaces for people to create art. Bob Takatch, Ann Over, Nancy Martt, and others had been teaching art in the community for years at that point, sometimes in their own homes, sometimes in rented spaces. It became apparent that a more permanent solution was needed to meet the growing demand within the community. These impassioned artists and advocates cobbled together their finances, some even mortgaging their own houses, to purchase an empty car dealership at 155 Bell Street. The rest is a rich, patchwork history, including Bob and Nancy designing the old murals at the West Side Market to earn money to pay for upkeep of the VAC building.

To mark this half-century of creative and colorful evolution, VAC is shaping a year of art appreciation opportunities including themed exhibits, workshops, and a virtual party. It all kicks off in September with an exhibit entitled “Visionaries”.

This show will highlight VAC’s past, those influential and inspired artists who founded the organization, and steered the early formation of the programs we offer today. 1971 – 1984 were critical years for VAC, and the artists invited to participate in this exhibit were the key players during that time.

The current staff and board of Valley Art Center wishes to express how fortunate we are to be able to celebrate this continuing tradition of engaging in art today.

Hundreds of lives have been enriched and transformed through Valley Art Center experiences over these 50 years, teaching, learning, and building a legacy of art in the Chagrin Valley. We are thankful for the support we have received from the greater Cleveland arts community and we look forward to sharing our history with you all through these exhibits and programs.

Visionaries is on display through October 14, 2020.

In-person and virtual tours will be available.

Small groups of up to 10 persons will be welcome by appointment.

For more information, call 440.247.7507 or visit valleyartcenter.org.

SHEARLING COMFORT Rugged laces meet genuine shearling in this one-of-a-kind bootie. Featuring show stopping waterproof suede, a genuine shearling collar with soft microfleece lining, an EVA footbed, and molded rubber sole for traction during rainy days. KNUTH’S, Pepper Pike, 216.831.1116; Westlake, 440.871.7800.

Cleveland Browns Partner with Howard Hanna as Official Real Estate Provider Two of Cleveland’s favorite home teams are joining forces! Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, the #1 independent home seller in the nation, is pleased to become the official real estate provider of the Cleveland Browns.

Through the Howard Hanna-Cleveland Browns partnership, the real estate company will have a prominent presence at FirstEnergy Stadium, during Browns games this fall and at future fan events, as well as on ClevelandBrowns.com and the team’s social media platforms.

“The Cleveland Browns and Howard Hanna are two of Cleveland’s most recognizable institutions. We’re proud to be a partner of the Cleveland Browns, and pleased that we have the honor of being the team’s official real estate provider,” said Howard W. “Hoby” Hanna, IV, President of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services.

Howard Hanna is also the presenting partner of “The Kevin Stefanski Show,” which airs from 7-8 p.m. on Thursdays throughout the season on 850 ESPN Cleveland, 92.3 The Fan, and the University Hospitals Cleveland Browns Radio Network. The weekly radio program, highlighted by an exclusive interview with the Browns’ head coach, is hosted by Browns senior media broadcaster Nathan Zegura and Beau Bishop and also features a conversation with a Browns player each week.

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services is the #1 familyowned and -operated independent broker in the U.S.A. The full-service real estate company has 325 real estate, mortgage, insurance, title and escrow service offices across 10 states, including Allen Tate Realtors in the Carolinas, with more than 11,000 sales associates and staff, including many of the industry’s top-producing real estate agents. For more information, visit www.

HowardHanna.com.

Sunshine Shop Press Release After 52 years in business, it is with much gratitude and some sadness we announce the Sunshine Shop Thrift Store in Burton is closing its doors permanently.

We are grateful to the Geauga Fair Board for providing us the space we called home for over 20 years.

To the volunteers who faithfully donated their time to help run the Sunshine Shop, we appreciate all your hard work! To Kathy Abe, who managed the Sunshine Shop for 20 years, thank you for your dedication, patience, and your eternal “sunny” attitude. And finally, to our donors and patrons, thank you for helping us support the community we call home.

Sincerely, The Geauga County Sunshine Shop Board www.currentsneo.com September 17, 2020 CURRENTS A9

BENEFIT BEAT (THE PANDEMIC EDITION)

Nonprofits address fundraising challenges during COVID-19 year after year are struggling,” BAYarts Director Nancy Heaton said. “Aside from ‘Moondance’, the majority of our income is earned through education programming, rentals and artist support, cut by about 50 percent this year, so we needed to make up the difference.”

The “Moondance 2020…at Home” package included everything guests needed for a BAYarts party at home, including a party box of artisan fare from Well Done Catering, a bottle of red or white wine from Euro Fine Wines, a hands-on art project and a link to 15 years of BAYarts “Moondance” bands and summer concert hits.

Ticket buyers had an option to participate in a raffle for a $1,000 Vivid Diamonds & Design gift certificate.

Heaton said response from sponsors and attendees was amazing. “Our regular sponsors signed on and we got a few new ones. This has been very encouraging to have local businesses show their support at this time. We found that people are looking for new ways to connect, so we are supplying everything for a way to do that, safe at home, while also supporting our organization,” she noted.

BAYarts expects to raise about $50,000 from this year’s fundraiser, compared to $70,000 to $80,000 in the past. “The upside is that we didn’t have big expenses like tents and event staff,” Heaton added. “Our ‘Moondance’ funds are always for operations like keeping the lights on, grounds upkeep and staff.”

Cleveland Play House (CPH) also opted for virtual fundraisers this year starting with an event titled, “CLUEbaret” on Oct. 10. The cast of the CPH box office hit, “Clue: A New Comedy” will reunite in a live musical broadcast.

By CYNTHIA SCHUSTER EAKIN Many benefit events and nonprofit budgets have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, where there is a will, there is a way. Here are how some Northeast Ohio non-profit organizations have addressed fundraising obstacles.

This year, Dunham Tavern Museum replaced its annual “Summer Soiree” benefit with a drive-in style event dubbed, “Drive-In & Dine.”

“We decided to cancel our yearly ‘Summer Soiree,’ always held the first Saturday in June. We took a few weeks to imagine what kind of event we could devise instead, when we realized that a fundraiser of any kind was very much needed,” said Lauren Hansgen, Dunham Tavern Museum executive director. “We contemplated a fully virtual or a hybrid event and opted for an in-person event on Aug. 22, paired with an online auction running through Sept. 30.”

“The in-person event, ‘Drive-In & Dine’, was a drivein style, socially distanced event. Guests pulled up to the barn to receive their individually boxed meals and beverages and were then guided to a parking space on the large western lawn. The food was fried chicken and sides, summer fare provided in part by support from our neighbors at Dave’s Supermarkets,” she noted. “Guests remained in their car or opted to bring lawn chairs or a blanket to sit outside the car within their designated space. Masks were worn when leaving the space. Portable restrooms were set up. Complimentary masks and hand sanitizer packs were provided.” Hansgen said state guidelines against mass gatherings limited guests to 100 attendees.

“Entertainment was on a large outdoor stage and featured two musical acts, including two members of the Cleveland Orchestra accompanying a dance video pre-

“Drive-In & Dine” at Dunham Tavern Museum was a drive-in, socially distanced benefit event.

Guests at “Drive-In & Dine” could remain in their car or sit outside in their designated space. sentation. Our landscape architect, Chris Merritt of Merritt Chase, presented a draft of our master plan, one of our biggest ongoing projects. He talked through the project up to this point and shared some visuals on the big screen,” she said.

“We hoped to raise $10,000 from the in-person event.

The online auction is a chance to add to that and drastically increase what we raise yearly at ‘Summer Soiree,” between $15,000 and $20,000. Because the auction is online, we have many more items and bidding is spread out over a number of weeks. You didn’t need to attend the event in-person in order to bid. It will take longer than usual to calculate funds raised as we wait for the auction to close on Sept. 30,” Hansgen explained. “Funds raised are critical to our operations and the maintenance of the museum. Our budget has been impacted by COVID-19, particularly with the loss of barn income for private events, and there are a number of pressing maintenance projects we are facing.”

BAYarts in Bay Village went virtual with a “Moondance 2020…At Home” fundraiser held on Sept. 12.

“In March, when we got the directive from the state about no large gatherings, we knew we could not have an event with the usual thousand-plus guests. We were also aware that many of the restaurants that support the event

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“The Cleveland Play House benefit committee decided to postpone the annual benefit until we are able to safely gather together in the Allen Theatre and lobby spaces,” said Bev Gans, CPH director of development. “Until then, we will produce a series of virtual fundraising events, like ‘CLUEbaret: A Comedic Musical Cabaret.”

“At this time, we are not operating in our performance venues at Playhouse Square. We are looking forward to working with our partners at Playhouse Square to learn the next steps on safety protocols for our patrons, artists and staff,” she added.

“Many of our annual benefit sponsors are committed to waiting for an in-person opportunity, but a few have pivoted their support to help Cleveland Play House produce artistic content virtually. Our fundraising goal has been $500,000 net for the past several years. We are still in the virtual event planning process, learning as we go, so our fundraising goal for events this season has not been set. All proceeds will support our artistic and educational programming,” Gans said.

Nonprofits working hard, standing strong through pandemic

By RITA KUEBER As 2020 continues to throw us twists and turns, nonprofits have had to adapt quickly to this brave new world of social distancing and minimal gatherings. Turning to technology, they have generated impressive financial results through unique methods, but also have found new ways of connecting with their audiences. Here’s how four resilient organizations have continued to live their mission, raise funds and serve their constituents.

“We had numerous things planned for 2020, including the Heart & Stroke Ball for June, and then went digital, using Zoom,” says Valerie Hillow Gates, Executive Director of the Heart Association’s Cleveland Chapter. “We had three goals in mind. What we did had to be informative, inspiring and innovative. We kept those three I’s in mind.” She says the live, virtual event was just 55 minutes long. “We had probably 400-plus viewers. We conducted a live auction and an ‘open your heart’ appeal.” Gates explains how the Heart Association campaigns all year, relying on a number of events in addition to the Ball. “We reached $55,000 in 55 minutes, and we felt really good about that.

“We are a health and science-based organization, so everything we plan will be virtual until we know differently from the data. Many of our supporters are heart attack survivors, and they are among the most vulnerable. Digital is how people will come to us for information,” Gates says. “We find ourselves planning from this new lens.”

She refers to a series of monthly on-line health talks on topics from Covid to mental health. “We’re connecting with people in new ways and it’s very valuable. We’ve pivoted our work and emerged with a clarity of purpose.

Our work is needed in the pandemic and also in the long term.” * * * The local chapter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation covers Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. President/CEO Stephanie McCormick says of the six scheduled galas, Columbus and Cincinnati were completed before the shutdown. “We had to repurpose our four remaining galas,” McCormick says. “We had to pivot pretty quickly. We were lucky our national office had a tool kit on virtual fundraisers, but we were nervous. Technology is not always your friend.”

To compensate, Make-a-Wish went with a pre-produced program streamed simultaneously on Facebook and YouTube. Two-thousand viewers tuned in to the Cleveland event, a far greater number than an in-person event could accommodate. “More people were able to participate in viewing, and bidding the auction, which was live, including about 50 of my neighbors in Indiana.

We reached beyond border and boundaries,” McCormick says.

The OH/KY/IN chapter is the largest in the country, and McCormick credits the overall success of the galas to each area’s regional advisory board. “They really pushed these virtual galas,” she states. “They hosted in-house parties and created partnerships with restaurants. We saw

Photograph courtesy of Make-A-Wish

the storytelling get better, and individual donations go up with each gala. We only fell short about $200,000 of our targeted goal, and no other chapter has come close to that.”

The Cleveland gala on July 10 raised over $425,000, allowing more than 40 wishes to come true.

McCormick talks about two changes the pandemic created. First, air travel is hyper-difficult and while some families chose to wait on their wish, others repurposed their wish from a one-week trip to a dream tree house or more family time using a camper. The other change is in the initial interview. “Our volunteer wish-granters had virtual meetings with families on Zoom or FaceTime,” This actually works faster, so we’re going to keep it. It breaks our hearts for a kid to wait on a wish.” * * * MedWish International repurposes discarded medical supplies and equipment to provide aid in the US and around the world. Their gala was planned for September, and may still occur later this year. In the meantime, MedWish offered an on-line concert in April and in May, organized MedWish Miles, a virtual run/walk/hike/bike event to honor those on the front lines of the Covid crisis, from nurses to grocery store workers. “People could choose to do a 1K, 5K or 10K. We had 300 participants

from all over the US,” says Associate Executive Director Britta Latz. “Some people and teams raised sponsorships and dedicated their miles in honor of certain individuals or groups. It was an amazing event for people to come together.” The organization raised over $20,000 over one weekend. Another creative event was organized in June.

MedWish sponsored Summer Nights, a drive-in movie party with a live DJ, two blockbuster movies, games and prizes, and boxed dinners prepared by Flour, Zhug and Luna restaurants.

MedWish operations struggled but prevailed during the shutdown. “We work with 3,000 to 3,500 volunteers every year – they are our lifeblood. We couldn’t do what we do without them, Latz says.” But with no volunteers, it was the staff of twelve that combed through square foot after square foot of unsorted pallets in their warehouse, looking for PPE (personal protective equipment) such as masks and gloves to distribute to those on the front lines.

“Our staff did a remarkable job,” she adds. “We are very fortunate to be supported by local healthcare institutions.

This was our opportunity to turn around and give back to them.” * * * This year, the Research Institute will celebrate its fifth

year of biomedical research focused on improving the treatment of genetic diseases and disorders. Last year they hosted a blow-out event at the Agora, with a mad scientist vibe.

“We made our decision to go virtual in April. Things didn’t seem to be lightening up,” says volunteer Michael Roether.

The organization wanted to return to the Agora, but the staff was gone. Bands weren’t available. The idea of a smaller gathering didn’t seem feasible, so a virtual event was born.

This year’s Giving Kids Hope is an interactive dining experience featuring a gourmet dinner by Thyme Catering and wine tasting by Gregory James Wines. Guests will be able to enjoy a four-course dinner and wine pairing of four bottles with commentary by Mike Smith, Owner/Executive Chef of Thyme and Jim Demuth, Gregory James Wines proprietor. “We’re going to have a combination of pickup from one or two central locations, and if that doesn’t work, we have home delivery organized within a 25-mile radius,” Roether adds. The organization hopes to sell one hundred tickets to accommodate 200 people.

“We’re hoping the event sparks interest between the cause and the fun of the event, plus it’s a great value – it’s a very reasonable night out. We’re hoping people will be comfortable enough to host a small party at home, maybe with other couples. We hope people will tune in online and have their own watch party,” he adds.

“This is as close as can be to an actual live event. It’s going to be an experience, talking with the chef with each pairing, plus a live auction. Personally I went from being disappointed about not having a live event but then being excited about the virtual event. Between the food, the wine and the auction, it’s going to have all the elements.”

“I’m guessing a virtual event is a possibility moving forward,” Roether muses. “It’s very exciting yet more comfortable in your home, but there’s something about being there in person. It’s an extra level of involvement.”

Tickets for the upcoming Giving Kids Hope – Virtual Wine Dinner on Saturday, October 24 are still available.

For more information visit https://case.edu/medicine/giving/strategic-events.

Upcoming Events

The Heart Association’s annual Heart Walk can bring up to 10,000 people together. This year for safety concerns the association has a free audio journey to download. Users are encouraged to go for a heart-healthy walk alone or with friends. Additionally the Kids’ Heart Challenge, a free learning module, is available to teachers and parents. www.heart.org/en/affiliates/ohio/cleveland At press time the Make-A-Wish Foundation is planning on their annual Walk for Wishes, October 3 at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The organization will continue to monitor guidelines and recommendations for overall health and safety. More information about this familyfriendly event is available online. oki.wish.org MedWish is still firming up plans for additional fundraisers for late 2020. Keep an eye on their website for information regarding a possible gala, or other events. medwish.org

Save lives while walking where you are, with the Cleveland Heart Walk on September 26, 2020 With the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic keeping residents safe at home, the American Heart Association (AHA), the leading voluntary health organization focused on heart and brain health for all, is planning its biggest Cleveland Heart Walk ever by moving the action online with an exciting digital experience culminating on Saturday, September 26, 2020.

“We’re going to reach more people by bringing the experience to them,” says Valerie Hillow Gates, executive director of the American Heart Association. “We’re going to touch more hearts, move more feet and raise more lifesaving funds than ever before.”

Even during the pandemic, heart disease and stroke remain the #1 and #5 causes of death nationally. “Our mission is as vitally needed as it ever has been,” adds Hillow Gates. “We need people to stay safe and ask Clevelanders to continue to raise funds in support of our lifesaving mission.”

Heart Walk Chairman Michael Dill, managing director at Accenture Health and Public Service, adds: “We are all looking for ways to connect with others, stay active and stay positive. The digital experience allows everyone to continue to have fun and support the mission. We

are grateful for the support from our community and look forward to bringing them this one-of-a-kind event.”

“We’re all keenly aware of how our lives are different now, and this year’s Heart Walk celebration will be too,” says Board of Directors member Nick Liberatore of Parker Hannifin. “With the potential of our new digital experience to reach even more people, we are thrilled about what is possible. We will lace up and stay active together – and raise critical funds to save lives.”

One engaging new component of the walk will be a 26-minute Heart Walk audio experience that people can listen to while they walk where they are. It will be available at no cost to anyone who would like to use it. 26 minutes is the average amount of time it takes for walkers to complete their route. AHA will also be sharing a series of sponsored routes that walkers can try across Cleveland if they are looking for a change of scenery for their walk.

This year, Clevelanders will walk as one because so much is at stake and COVID-19 has only strengthened the AHA’s resolve. Hillow Gates added: “Our work has pivoted over the last 5 months and we have emerged with a clarity of purpose about how much our role in the community is needed. 40 percent of those hospitalized due

to COVID-19 are stroke survivors or people with heart disease.” The AHA is investing in new research grants and training healthcare workers, while we continue the fight against heart disease and stroke.

While Heart Walk participants and teams will not physically meet, they are invited to get moving at home or around the neighborhood. Here are a few fun activities to consider choosing from: • Take a walk outside (while following current social distancing guidelines).

• Get the whole family involved and have an indoor dance party.

• Try out a few strengthening exercises like push-ups, lunges and squats.

• Create an at home circuit workout.

The Cleveland Heart Walk top sponsors are Accenture, Parker Hannifin, and Cleveland Clinic. Currently 70 companies are registered to form teams of walkers, and it is not too late to join the fun. The funds raised from Cleveland Heart Walk go towards research, advocacy, CPR training and to promote better overall health. Last year, nearly 10,000 Clevelanders gathered to walk – this year, the AHA wants to see how many can walk where

they are and share their experiences on social media.

To register, visit www.heart.org/ClevelandWalk. Participants can stay up to date by downloading the Heart Walk mobile app and encouraging others to join in via e-mail or on social media at @ClevelandAHA. On September 26, everyone is encouraged to wear a Heart Walk shirt or a company shirt, and post pictures and videos to document their activity using #CLEHeartWalk so we can memorialize this annual event!

About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century.

Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

Wine Women & Shoes: Virtual!

Join us online starting October 15 as Wine Women & Shoes goes virtual! The free online event will showcase your favorite parts of the event, including boutique shopping, a Key-to-the-Closet raffle, the Best in Shoe contest and auctions, all culminating in the Featured Broadcast on Thursday, October 22 at 7 p.m. The program will highlight mission moments, live drawings for Key-to-theCloset winners, crowning of the King of Sole and more.

Mark your calendars to Be There. Be Virtually Fabulous!

LITERARY CLEVELAND Join us on Thursday, October 8 to celebrate and support our local writing community at the Literary Cleveland virtual fundraiser, A Lit Autumn Night.

When you attend this online celebration, you help provide literary arts programming for our community.

Free community workshops, neighborhood writing programs, and events like the Inkubator Conference (which reached more than 10,000 people this year!) are only possible with your support.

So put on your fanciest black tie pajamas and join us from the comfort of your couch for literary performances, guest appearances, games, and a toast to our outgoing executive director, Christine Howey.

Plus, everyone who purchases a ticket by Sunday, September 27 at 5pm will receive a Discovery Box full of serious literary swag, including a books, gift certificates, and merchandise.

Literature and community are powerful tonics in anxious times, providing comfort and inspiration. So if you are able, please help support Literary Cleveland by joining us October 8 at A Lit Autumn Night.

Details: This event will take place on Zoom. Purchase a ticket and we will send you the Zoom link invitation to the party.

Purchase your ticket by 5pm on Sunday, September 27, 2020 to receive a Discovery Box full of literary items. You can select a pickup location, pay extra for delivery, or opt out of the box if you prefer.

Contact info@litcleveland.org with any questions, or call 216.632.0839. www.currentsneo.com September 17, 2020 CURRENTS A11

Jewelry and watch designers offer richly detailed styles for fall

By LAURI GROSS In fall, everyone loves layering their clothes for richness and warmth in looks and feeling. David Schreibman, who owns Alson Jewelers (in Woodmere) with his brother Chad, says layering goes for jewelry, too. One great way for women to do that, he said, is with chunky long chains, pearls and charms. These are “all classics, but with a modern twist,” he explained. Rose gold, he said, is a customer favorite. “We’ve seen the popularity of it in women’s accessories over the course of the last few years,” he added.

Rose gold is also starting to trend in jewelry and watches for men, David explained. In addition, this fall, men’s jewelry is starting to include more color. “Bracelets containing color detailing, as well as watches with colored dials are a trend we’ll be seeing heading into fall. Also, rubber is a very popular material used in men’s jewelry for bracelets and watch straps.”

Barbara Johnson, owner of Jewelry Art in Hudson also recommends colorful jewelry for a great fall look. “There are gems of all shapes, sizes and colors,” she said. “This earth produces so many amazing gemstones! There are colors for every palette.”

Barbara added that both women and men desire their jewelry to be a part of their personal identity. To achieve a personal look, she points to different shapes and textures.

“Try textured gold, platinum or white or blackened silver,” she said. Also, look for jewelry that can be stacked.

Given the name of her store, it’s no surprise that Barbara considers jewelry to be wearable art. In keeping with that vibe, she said she especially loves designs by Alishan, Alex Sepkus, Atelier Zobel (Peter Schmid) and Todd Reed.

For the watch enthusiast looking to add to their collection of timepieces, David has new and exciting suggestions for both men and women. To ensure the best decision, David said, “make sure it’s something that excites you every time you look at your wrist. Watches are investments, and the must-have watch differs from person to person. I suggest exploring many options. Choose a timepiece that speaks to you, not one that you think you should have for your collection. Ask questions and collect as much information as you can about your purchase.

Take pictures of the watch on your wrist. I guarantee a front-runner will begin to emerge and you’ll find your next must-have timepiece!”

For elegant and timeless choices that also ooze modern style, David said, “For women, we love the beautiful Tudor Glamour Date and the new Baume & Mercier Ladies Hampton. For men, we’re very excited about the Breitling Chronomat and the IWC Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph.”

If someone is looking for one great watch, David suggests the iconic Rolex Submariner. “Rolex launched this legendary watch in 1953, and it is arguably one of the most recognizable and in-demand Rolex timepieces ever designed,” David said. “For women, I would recommend the Ballon Bleu de Cartier. It is modern yet timeless and is known for its beautiful curves and angles, not to mention the exceptional level of craftsmanship. It’s not only a watch; it’s a piece of jewelry.”

This fall, many bracelets for men feature color detailing like this woven box chain selection from David Yurman, available at Alson Jewelers. Photograph courtesy of Alson Jewelers

For over 70 years IMG Jewelers has been creating custom pieces for Cleveland. IMG provides engagement rings and beautiful jewelry for you to view and take home the same day. Our in-house, full-service shop is here for all of your jewelry needs as always! We have taken all necessary precautions to ensure the safety for you, your family, and our team here at IMG Jewelers. We look forward to seeing you soon! IMG JEWELERS, Inc., 5470 Mayfield Rd., Lyndhurst, 440.461.4464.

Alson Jewelers has a great collection of watches for men and women looking for a new fall look, starting with this Ballon Bleu de Cartier in steel with diamonds. Photograph courtesy of Alson Jewelers.

Like your clothing, layer your jewelry this fall.

A design-your-own charm necklace like this one in black steel and 18K yellow gold from Monica Rich Kosann makes it easy. Available at Alson Jewelers. Photograph courtesy of Alson Jewelers

Penny Preville diamond bracelets in 18K yellow, white, and rose gold. ALSON JEWELERS, Chagrin Boulevard, Woodmere, 216.464.6767 or visit alsonjewelers.com.

Rich color and texture make these whimsical bracelets perfect for fall. Available at Jewelry Art. Photograph courtesy of Jewelry Art

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A12 CURRENTS September 17, 2020 www.currentsneo.com

SHAKER HEIGHTS

$1,095,000

This magnificent stucco estate designed by Mead and Hamilton features exquisite woodwork and detail inside and out. Sited on over 1.75 acres overlooking Green Lake, this spectacular residence features 8 bedrooms, a gorgeous wood-paneled living room, cozy family room, walk-out lower level, covered patio and heated in-ground pool, heated mud room, renovated kitchen & baths, newer air conditioning, and more.

CHAGRIN FALLS

$1,099,000

CHAGRIN FALLS

$899,000

Impressive stucco manor home designed for grand scale entertaining and luxury living! This magnificent home is sited on a gorgeous 2.5 acre lot and sits back off the road for maximum privacy! The dramatic and elegant two story foyer with a dual circular staircase is truly impressive and sets the stage for this home!

Located on over 5 acres in a private enclave, this traditional home is a show stopper! Highlights of this home include a two story foyer; a two story family room with fireplace and French doors to the patio flanking the fireplace. Chef’s will love this gourmet kitchen with top of the line appliances, granite countertops and views of the back yard.

GATES MILLS

$1,049,900

Located on the cul-de-sac on a magnificently landscaped private oasis, this French country manor home is truly outstanding! Constructed with the finest quality materials and offering incredible amenities, this home has a sought after modern floor plan for today’s living!

AURORA

$569,900

This amazing free standing condominium in Barrington has never been lived in and is brand new!!! Located on a gorgeous golf course lot in Club Side Manor, this amazing home has been upgraded to perfection!! The fabulous open floor plan is highlighted by gorgeous hardwood floors and wall of windows offering beautiful views!

PEPPER PIKE

$765,000

Fabulous transitional Palmieri built soft contemporary sited on a gorgeous park like lot! This home has a modern floor plan highlighted by walls of windows and gracious sized rooms!

The gourmet kitchen has granite counter tops, a center island, and a bay windowed eating area which opens onto the expansive deck.

CLEVELAND

$995,000

Be prepared to be wowed by this 4000 + sq feet loft in the highly sought after and historical Cloak Factory Building! Exceptionally located in the heart of downtown Cleveland with gorgeous lake views, this incredible space is designed for luxury living and entertaining! Throughout this unit, you will love the exposed brick walls, hardwood floors, beamed ceilings, and walls of windows!

CHAGRIN FALLS

$515,000

Classic Center hall colonial sited on beautifully landscaped private wooded lot on a cul-de-sac in sought after Laurel Springs. Updated fresh décor and an inviting floor plan great for entertaining or family living. Center island kitchen with custom cabinetry, granite counter tops, breakfast bar and eating area open to an updated family room.

GATES MILLS

$899,900

SHAKER HEIGHTS

LYNDHURST

$459,900

CLEVELAND

This landmark home sited on 4 plus glorious acres in the heart of Gates Mills within walking distance to the Hunt Club is an absolute gem! Built in 1853, this home exudes quality craftsmanship and the attention to detail is extraordinary! There is a great room addition that overlooks the rear yard and features a beamed ceiling, wet bar, fireplace, and French doors that open onto the rear patio!

Located in sought after River Creek, this fabulous home offers a wide open floor plan and includes incredible upgrades throughout. The kitchen is amazing with top of the line stainless steel appliances (Viking cook top, dishwasher, wall oven) center island with seating, and granite countertops. The great room features a dramatic stacked stone fireplace.

$899,000

This French Normandy is an absolutely magnificent home filled with exquisite architectural details throughout!! The grand two story entrance has a spectacular reverse staircase with a fabulous landing and intricately paneled wood ceiling. The library is beautifully paneled with a corner fireplace and another leaded glass bay window! The expansive second floor has 6 bedrooms and 4 full baths.

$95,000

Here is your chance to own the most beautiful “Pieda-Terre” in historic Moreland Courts.. This incredible unit is decorated to perfection and features beautiful hardwood floors and period detailing! The kitchen has been completely renovated and features high end professional appliances including a Wolf range!

www.currentsneo.com September 17, 2020 CURRENTS B1

Beautiful Paskevich-designed Colonial for sale in Novelty

This inviting country manor offers smart, stylish living in a gracious, peaceful setting.

By RITA KUEBER This Paskevich-designed Colonial was built in 1986, but from 2015 to 2018 the current owners reinvented the country manor, leveraging exquisite taste and good “house sense,” to create a wonderfully unique, open, upscale and comfortable home. Always solidly built and lovely, today the structure is an absolute show-stopper with graceful views inside and out, and beautifully proportioned spaces plus bonus rooms.

The front entry double door is framed by a two-story stone arch, and has a diagonal herringbone brick floor set into the hardwood. Inside the foyer, a wood staircase curves along the wall to a landing and gallery above. A formal dining room is to the right, and accesses the great room. From the foyer, the view shoots straight to an open seating area, currently a music room that has a large window showing off gardens and expansive lawn in the back.

This space is open to a relaxed great room that has skylights, cathedral ceiling and rafters, a stone fireplace and wood mantel. On the far end, through an arched entry lies a circle-shaped solarium with walls of nothing but windows, tray ceiling, and access to the back patio through French doors.

There are curves but no walls, so these rooms are open to the kitchen where the mood becomes a bit more rustic but no less charming or stylish. A cantilevered brick fireplace and hearth is opposite a built-in study space. This sort of entry into the kitchen leads to an eat-in area that has its own chandelier and access to the patio. Built-in storage is everywhere. The gourmet kitchen has custom cabinetry, a walk-in pantry, new oven, gas range topped by a copper hood, tile backsplash and granite countertops throughout.

Behind the kitchen is a screened porch. A two-way stone fireplace opens onto the back patio, adjacent to the outdoor kitchen. Further down the hall is an incredible media room and an overhead projection system.

The kitchen suite is completed by a laundry/mud room trimmed in wood and a tile floor.

The foyer also leads to the first-floor master suite. First a wood-paneled private office/library, then a hallway flooded by natural light, leading to double doors. The suite has two huge walk-in dressing rooms, luxuriously appointed bath and a glassed-in shower with a stunning stone wall/backsplash.

Up the front stairs or (back stairs accessed through the

The kitchen has every amenity for preparing meals, plus bountiful storage and wide open spaces for gathering together.

The screened-in porch has a wood cathedral ceiling, and a two-way fireplace.

The master bed and bath suite has a glowing, natural palette and luxurious details.

A gorgeous symmetrical stone arch frames the front interior entry.

kitchen) are three bright and spacious bedrooms, each having its own walk-in closet and private full bath. In addition to the landing that overlooks the great room, the second floor has a private loft space or common area that works as another office or playroom.

The lower level has a private bedroom suite with a full bath and additional room for a sitting area, ideal for

guests. This level also has an exercise room, and an entertainment area, a built-in bar and walk-out access to the back yard and the professionally landscaped gardens.

The property also has a new, detached four-car heated garage and a bonus hobby room. Upstairs this kind of carriage house has an expandable space ideal for a studio apartment or artist’s loft.

7341 Wharton has 10,382 square feet of space, five bedrooms, seven baths (five full and two half baths) on two stories plus a lower walk-out level, all set on five acres. The house is in the West Geauga School District, and is listed at $2,495,000 at press time. Annual taxes are $25,158. Contact Adam Kaufman at 216.831.7370, or adamkaufman@howardhanna.com.

B2 CURRENTS September 17, 2020 www.currentsneo.com

Upgrade your bedroom for fall, to ensure sweet dreams all year

By LAURI GROSS Carolyne Bloch likes to say, “If you don’t sleep well, you don’t live well.” As the design coordinator and manager of Block Bros. at Home in Pepper Pike, she should know. Carolyne and her husband Paul, the owner and president, are considered leading regional experts on the history, design and care of the luxury bed. The store has been in business 48 years.

Carolyne said, “Your bedroom should represent a peaceful sanctuary and be calming; Your safe place to be with family.”

Deborah Danals, buyer, interior designer at Leopold’s Fine Home Furnishings in Breckville agreed, and added, “Today’s designs for bedrooms are trending toward peaceful, beautiful spaces.”

Get ready for fall’s chilly weather with new bedroom furniture and/or luxury linens to stay cozy. Carolyne said, “Our bedding, towels, comforters, pillows and decorative accessories are reminiscent of the finest resorts in the world. We can find the right style for each individual by focusing on the biggest piece of furniture. In the bedroom it’s the bed, then everything else is easy.”

Leopold’s has been in business more than 161 years.

The family-owned store can furnish any room in your home, with plentiful bedroom selections, about which Deborah said, “Casual lifestyles are indicating lighter woods, grayed stains and white painted finishes with a soft patina. Using wire-brushed woods adds an additional dimension to case pieces. Metal hardware is often antiqued brass, blackened bronze or brushed nickel.”

In homes with built-in storage spaces and walk-in closets, “the traditional bedroom pieces are often now only side tables and an outstanding bed,” Deborah added.

“Upholstered beds are continuing to be on point,” she said, as she explained many options for customizing the look, including the bed height; adding wood trim; numerous fabric and leather upholstery choices; design choices such as tufting, button tufting, quilting and nail-head trim; adding mirrored elements or shagreen (a type of rawhide consisting of rough untanned skin); and adding drawer storage.

“Side tables are currently higher to accommodate pillow-top mattresses, and may feature seeded glass, antique mirror, metal, open shelving, drawers and doors,” she said. “A newer design style is achieved by not matching the side tables but coordinating them.”

At Block Bros., shoppers will find items from Celso de Lemos, a Portuguese company which Carolyne said, “has such amazing designs in coverlets and coordinating sheets.” Also, look for this company’s towels called Abyss, which were named the longest lasting and most absorbent in a test against 30 other luxury brands.

Block Bros. also carries products from many Italian companies. One, SDH, invented a fabric for sheets made out of beech wood trees. Carolyne said, “It’s responsibly sourced and new trees are planted to replenish the forest. It is all organic and certified to be chemicalfree.”

There’s also Sferra (started in Venice in 1891), known for beautiful traditional designs inspired by the renaissance and classical antiquity. Carolyne also gets couture designs from the Dea factory outside of Florence, and she offers some exclusive patterns made only for Block Bros. that feature hand-cut fabric and hand embroidery.

Block Bros. at Home offers luxury bedding like this set from the Italian company SDH, which invented fabric for sheets made from beech wood trees. Photograph courtesy of Block Bros. at Home

Tufted and upholstered headboards like this Bernhardt Canyon Ridge style in desert taupe, are popular choices from Leopold’s Fine Furniture. Photograph courtesy of Leopold’s

Made-in-America Dreammodal sheets from Matouok – available at Block Bros. at Home - help create a peaceful sanctuary as part of your best bedroom looks for fall. Photograph courtesy of Block Bros. at Home

Another popular choice, Carolyne said, is the U.S.-based Scandia, which she said produces, “the world’s best down comforter and pillows.”

Another made-in-America company that Carolyne loves is Matouk. Their fabric and designs are an absolute go-to and they just partnered with Schumacher family with beautiful flowered designs; So refreshing.”

Philadelphia-based artist Kevin O’Brien, and his codesigners, create beautiful, colorful, and unusual designs.

Carolyne said, “We are excited to see his new fall collection of hand-painted velvet pillows and throws in sumptuous shades of wild berry, raspberry, copper, gold, mango and many others.”

Other ways to change up the look of your bedroom this fall include adding an end-of-the- bed bench. “It’s a lovely and useful feature,” said Deborah. “Even a small chaise or loveseat can be used at the end of a bed. Changing small accessories -- like adding a warm soft green luxurious throw on the end of a bed or switching pillows and pillow shapes on the bed, or replacing an area rug -- can create a new look for your bedroom,” she added.

Don’t forget to also upgrade your mattress. Deborah said Leopold’s features White Dove mattresses. She added, “Some mattresses are still traditionally made, while others have pillow tops, inner coils, gel, foam, luxury bamboo and separate motion and adjustable frames.”

It’s also popular to shop online for a mattress that comes in a box no bigger than a coffee table. You’ll find brands including Casper, Helix, Leesa, Lull, Nectar, Purple, Tuft & Needle, Zinus and more. Since these companies can’t offer an in-store test drive, many let you return it for free if you aren’t happy after months of sleeping on it. Instead of springs and coils, most use specialized foams and gels. Read the online descriptions carefully and choose features that are important to you. When your mattress arrives in the box, it will need anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours to decompress and expand to its full thickness. Then add your new bedding and give it a whirl.

Pandemic inspires creative Dining Room makeovers

By PARIS WOLFE Pandemic quarantines and lockdowns are breathing new life into the home dining room. While many people are making the space more casual for daily use and entertaining, some are converting formerly formal dining spaces to school rooms, craft rooms, offices and more.

“People are recognizing that the pandemic isn’t going away any time soon so they’re doing what they can to improve homes and enjoy their space,” says Barrie Spang, lead designer with Sapphire Pear in Rocky River. “We’re seeing a real resurgence of people wanting kitchen/dining/great room space to be updated. They have less interest in formal dining, even in big houses. We’re not designing around one or two big family holidays a year but making space for all 364 days of the year.”

Walls, floors, lighting, and furniture are all up for consideration when rethinking the space. The more casual look includes textured wood with open grain, mixed with metal. Stuffy upholstered dining room chairs have lost favor to more casual seating with open backs that let light through. Rugs have become optional. Some floor coverings may be sophisticated while others use indoor/ outdoor rugs that are easier to clean.

Changing the furniture doesn’t mean replacing it. A dark china cabinet may be modernized with a light chalk paint for a casual look, says Spang. A pop of color on the interior might coordinate with chair cushions or curtains and pull together the room. Spang recently used a bit of coral paint to add excitement to a client’s home. “Annie Sloan chalk paints have some great colors,” she says.

“There’s really no limit as you can mix any color.”

Julie Pawlowski, designer/owner of mod: Matter of Design in Hudson, is also working on more casual and pragmatic spaces. She says, “We have seen more focus on creating an inviting and purposeful home dining experience. Investing in a quality dining table paired with comfortable seating is key.

“From there,” she says, “choosing the perfect lighting, a functional rug to ground the space, and wall art can help tie everything together and make a statement. Cool grey tones have given way to warmer earth tones. Creating a welcoming space conducive to hanging out is more important than ever.”

Change doesn’t mean throwing out the old. “Layering old and new is still in,” says Pawlowski. “Clients love being able to incorporate the story of their family through mixing and matching meaningful pieces with new unique items.”

For those ready to make a change, she suggests, “Be bold and consider investing in wall covering. It will instantly transform the space and become an important way in warming up a space. It will become the artwork for the room.”

The floor might also be artwork for the room when oriental rugs are added to the decor. Larchmere Oriental Rugs in Cleveland has been selling new, vintage and antique handmade wool rugs for almost 20 years. The establishment is Northeast Ohio’s expert in the field.

“Those looking for a dining room rug should know that dimensions are important,” says co-owner Sarah Matters.

“A minimum of 8- by 10-feet is needed so table and chairs fit within the rug, allowing space to tuck in and out. It is preferable for a dining room rug not to have a central medallion because it will be partly obscured by the table, but

the principal objective is that you love the rug. You will be living with it for many years, if not your whole life.”

There is some room for trending styles. “In the previous few years rugs with blues and greys have increased in popularity,” Matters says, “but, Cleveland’s long dark winters still make homeowners interested in the rich jewel tones of reds and blues as well.”

Once the room is ready its time to enjoy it as a family or small group. With so much emphasis on social distancing, the intimacy of sharing a meal has become more important, tabletop expert Beth Schreibman-Gering of Cleveland Heights. She says, “I don’t care if you’re using paper plates, napkins, what’s really important is that you’re eating together. The essentials of the room are people.”

Still, dining at home more just may be an opportunity to unpack and use the good tableware, even juxtaposed with a casual setting. “There is something to be said for using beautiful things. I like formal meals in blue jeans,” says Schreibman-Gehring, insisting that everything doesn’t have to – even shouldn’t – match.

La Bella Vita “the beautiful life” stores at Eton in Woodmere and in Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood imports and sells fine dinnerware that makes a statement on the table. Shoppers can choose from place settings to accent pieces and even linens to dress up the tabletop.

Whatever the décor, Schreibman-Gehring says, “This pandemic may be getting folks using their dining rooms again. We need that social intimacy with family and/or friends.”

www.currentsneo.com September 17, 2020 CURRENTS B3

Make fall your favorite season with a patio, firepit and hot tub

By LAURI GROSS

Visitors to the Rocky River Park Pavilion can enjoy this new community fireplace by Thomas Brick. The company transforms public and private spaces into havens of brick, tile, and stone to be enjoyed for generations. Photograph courtesy of Thomas Brick

An outdoor gathering space featuring seating from Tropitone, like this set available from Patio, Deck and Hearth Shop, will make for an unforgettable fall. Photograph courtesy of Patio, Deck and Hearth Shop Most of the firepit tables John sells are 42-inch propane or natural-gas porcelain-top models from OW Lee, a California-based company. “Customers can hook up a hard pipe or use a tank,” John said. Sizes go up to 60-inch rounds. While some models use charcoal, reflective glass is more popular. John said the glass pieces come in several colors and their jagged shape adds sparkle.

Then, stop by Northeast Factory Direct Hot Tub Outlet showroom in Mentor to select just the right hot tub for your space. “Most people usually are looking for a tub that seats five to seven people,” said Jessica Kidd who provides customer service for the company. “Our best seller is a tub known as a G2, manufactured by Strong Spas,” she said, referring to a six-foot square model that seats five or six people. “Customers love the cover. It’s a

Titan hardcover, with a life-time warranty, and it’s super easy to use. People also love the built-in, pull-out steps and towel warmer,” she added.

Tubs from Strong Spas are manufactured in Pennsylvania. Northeast Factory Direct also carries tubs from LPI, manufactured in Florida and Tennessee; and Caldera, manufactured in California.

Jessica said, “People have their tubs installed almost anywhere you can think of,” but she said usually, it’s on a deck or a concrete slab, and some people place them inside an enclosure. “We usually ask for photos of where they’re placing their tub prior to delivery so we are properly prepared,” she said.

In-stock tubs can usually be delivered in two or three weeks, Jessica explained. Due to Covid, special-order

This hot tub by Strong Spas is a customer favorite at Northeast Factory Direct Hot Tub Outlet. It features seating for up to six, plus a towel warmer, pull-out steps, and a Titan hardcover with a lifetime warranty. Photograph courtesy of Northeast Factory Direct Hot Tub Outlet tubs can take about 14 weeks. Normally it would be six to eight weeks.

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“The amount of time being spent on patios has increased tremendously,” said Kevin Perciak, who handles architectural sales for Thomas Brick, with locations in Beachwood and Westlake. “People seem to feel more comfortable gathering in a private outdoor setting versus the other options in public. With a larger focus on spending time outdoors, we see more homeowners and restaurants investing in their ability to host others on their patios.”

So there you have it. You’re going to need a patio.

Maybe include a nice built-in firepit or fireplace. Then, of course, you’ll need some patio furniture and maybe a gas firepit table (if you didn’t opt for a built-in). And don’t forget a hot tub to complete the experience.

In fact, Kevin said, it’s all about the experience.

“Homeowners are viewing their patio design more with the experiences it’ll provide, rather than how just how it looks,” he explained. When choosing materials for your patio, Kevin said to consider “budget, color, dimensions and lastly texture. Clay pavers, natural stone, and porcelain pavers are materials that will last multiple generations and retain their original look.”

Customers with an existing patio can add a fireplace or firepit. “It’s an opportunity to add color and vibrancy to an existing space,” Kevin said.

Patio, Deck and Hearth Shop in Newbury Township has a huge selection of outdoor furniture in aluminum, all-weather wicker, wood, iron, steel, and poly-lumber, plus gas firepit tables, umbrellas and other shade options, and accessories. The shop carries top-quality lines including Jensen Leisure, Lloyd Flanders, Tropitone and Hanamint. Owner John Malarney explained that most of his products come from U.S. manufacturers and going forward, that will be an even bigger focus. “It’s important to our customers,” he explained. The shop’s furniture selections range from traditional to contemporary to looks that blend both styles.

Many of John’s customers bring drawings for a new home they’re building, or a new outdoor living space they’re having installed. “We work a lot with large landscape companies,” he said. “They show us plans and we spec it all out. Or they come after it’s built.” Either way, John is happy to guide shoppers through each decision.

In-stock items can be available in about five days. Special-order items arrive in about eight to 12 weeks. “This is due to Covid,” John said. “Normally, special-order items come in four weeks.”

From birth to, graduation, marriage or first job, we can help you capture the memories forever. forever. memories By appointment only.

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On staff designers to assist you in creating your unique personal style.

October Currents: Home Design Get set for the holidays! Real Estate, Education and Seniors

B4 CURRENTS September 17, 2020 www.currentsneo.com

Performance fabrics offer sensible solution for furnishings You can have it all … a white sofa as well as pets, kids and, yes, even red wine. That’s because today’s performance fabrics make upholstered furniture stain-resistant and easy-to-clean. Unlike the old fabric coatings or “guards,” which wore off over time, performance is built into today’s fabrics.

The furniture industry uses the term “performance fabric” to describe materials that endure wear and tear and clean easily. That doesn’t mean they never need cleaning.

Simple stains lift with a little water and blotting. Tougher stains like chocolate and paw prints may require cleaners.

The result is superior to the past.

Choices include a broad range of colors and textures including some that feel soft like brushed cotton or chenille and those that look elegant like linen, says Barrie Spang, lead designer at Sapphire Pear in Rocky River.

Spang works with her clients to choose the right fabrics for their lifestyle.

“It’s really changed the upholstery industry,” says Spang. “Performance fabrics are a huge part of what we do. It makes sense because you can do lighter colors without the fear of staining. We almost exclusively do sofas in performance fabrics. We also do upholstered headboards with them.”

“Designers have several brands to choose from,” she notes. “We look at what performance they offer.” Two of her favorites are Crypton and Sunbrella. Crypton, she explains, has outstanding fabrics that feel like anything else, but prevent smells and offer the ability to remove stains.

CWRU Lifelong Learning Classes Fairy Tales: The Power of the Story Instructor: Paula Kalamaras, Instructor of Lifelong Learning Location: Online Date: Thursdays, September 17-November 5 Time: 10 - 11:30 a.m. EDT From Grimm to Disney, ancient myths to Perrault, what are fairy tales and why are they important in our lives? Why are folktales different in each culture? What makes a legend? We will discuss these questions and so much more, including a whole cache of unknown tales discovered by accident recently in a German municipal town archive. https://case.edu/lifelonglearning/courses/coursessubject/literature-writing/fairy-tales-power-storyremote Trauma, Ethics, and Witness in Women’s Holocaust Diaries Instructor: Ravenel Richardson, Visiting Scholar, CWRU School of Medicine Location: Online Date: Tuesdays, September 22 - October 13 Time: 1:30-3 p.m. EDT https://case.edu/lifelonglearning/courses/coursessubject/jewish-studies/trauma-ethics-and-witness-womens-holocaust-diaries-remote The Many Stories of Modern Art Instructor: Cleveland Museum of Art Staff Location: Online Date: Tuesdays, September 29-November 3 Time: 10 - 11 a.m. EDT This six-session course will offer a chronological overview of key moments and themes in modern art through in-depth analyses of significant works in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art by artists such as Berthe Morisot, Wilfredo Lam, Jacob Lawrence, and Lee Krasner. https://case.edu/lifelonglearning/courses/coursessubject/art-music-theater/many-stories-modern-artremote For more information visit www.case.edu/lifelonglearning or call 216.368.2090

Meanwhile, Sunbrella resists sun fade and mildew. It can be cleaned with harsh products but isn’t “totally bulletproof.” Sunbrella, she says is good for a south-facing window where sun fade will be a concern.

Like many furniture retailers, Sedlak Interiors in Solon offers performance fabrics on in-stock and customdesigned furniture. “They are available from almost all of

the upholstery lines that we carry, says Terese Antle, Sedlak Interiors’s Upholstery Merchandiser. “They are very popular for their durability and clean-ability.”

In addition to Sunbrella and Crypton, brands that are familiar to consumers include Inside Out and Revolution.

“They are all easy to clean,” says Antle. “Some are solution dyed, so the color is actually part of the fiber. These

would be Sunbrella and Inside Out. This makes them fade-resistant and even bleach can be used to clean them.

Others are submersed. This applies color to the fiber or fabric. Both are durable. Most are mildew-resistant, environmentally safe, and made in the USA.” And budget isn’t necessarily a concern. Both Spang and Antle say they can be affordable.

SAVE 50% OFF your finish premium During Wood Mode’s Anniversary Sale Going on now through October 25, 2020 See a design specialist for details

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SIGNATURE ULTIMATE

SIGNATURE ULTIMATE DOUBLE-HUNG DOUBLE-HUNG Please contact Progressive Building Supply Progressive to explore all Please contact the window and door solutions Building Supply to explore all that Marvin has to offer for the window and door solutions replacement, remodel or new thatconstruction Marvin hasprojects. to offer for

replacement, remodel or new construction projects.

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Chagrin Falls, OH 440.543.1060

www.currentsneo.com September 17, 2020 CURRENTS B5

At Marshall Carpet we are uniquely skilled at creating custom installations. In this case, our customer had custom built a solid wood staircase, which while stunning, ended up being a slip hazard for her and her pets. She wanted to maintain the architectural integrity of the steps while providing a safe, slip-resistant environment. Accomplishing this required a very intricate and difficult custom, on-site fabricated carpet installation. We utilized a woven, wool carpet to provide a sleek, low-profile. This allowed us to enhance the beauty of the steps while maintaining safety for all. Whether you have unique or more standard flooring needs, contact or visit Marshall Carpet and Rug Gallery. You’ll find skilled and knowledgeable professionals and, more choices then you could imagine. MARSHALL CARPET ONE AND RUG GALLERY, Mayfield Heights, 440.449.4977 or visit marshallcarpetone.com.

When having a truly custom kitchen is what matters most At Somrak Kitchens each kitchen is custom designed and the cabinetry is custom handcrafted to your exact specifications by the finest craftsmen and finishers using the highest quality materials selected under scrutiny for each cabinet order. Some of these craftsmen come from companies that have come from generations of custom cabinet makers dating back over 100 years old. When attention to detail is important to you and a level of qual-

ity you can see is what you expect, then let the designers with years of experience guide your way to your new custom kitchen. So when you are looking for a truly custom kitchen look no further than SOMRAK KITCHENS at 26201 Richmond Rd. Bedford Hts., 216.464.6500.

Visit us at www.somrakkitchens.com or in person at our luxurious showroom.

Turn the house of your dreams into your home in reality.

way Aof living

B6 CURRENTS September 17, 2020 www.currentsneo.com

As working, schooling and leisure time are all taking place in the home nowadays, people are spending a lot more time indoors. So it’s no surprise that many people want to bring the look and feel of the outdoors inside. Design trends are now leaning toward warm, earth-toned colors, curves and interesting color combinations to add interest to the home. Sedlak Interiors has redesigned many of their 27 showrooms to reflect this look and feel. Get ideas and inspiration at SEDLAK’S, 34300 Solon Road, Solon, OH. www.sedlakinteriors.com. 440.248.2424.

Estate Sale & Clearance Event at the Ohio Design Centre Like everyone in business and in life, we are adjusting to the major changes that COVID-19 has brought. We have been creative in finding ways to safely do business and serve our clientele. Our locally owned and operated showrooms rely on local support from readers such as you. We decided the loyal readers of Currents deserve a discount for supporting the Ohio Design Centre by having a clearance event the first weekend of October.

Participating showrooms include R. W. Shea, A. E. Monroe & Co., Patti DiBenedetto Gallery & Neue Auctions Gallery. Items include furniture, decorative objects, fine art-contemporary & antique, oriental carpets, sculpture, lighting and antiques.

Premier Cleveland dealer Greenwald Antiques will be onsite with an estate sale featuring items from local es-

tates & fine homes. Items will include porcelain, china, silver, lighting, artwork, glass, object d’ virtue and more.

If you know Greenwald, this sale should not be missed!

Be prepared to cash out and carry your new-found joy from this first-time-ever event. Complimentary loading by staff. Delivery services will be available for a fee. In addition to following COVID-19 state guidelines, upon entrance guests will sign a guest book with contact number, have temperature taken, provided a mask if needed and a good dose of hand sanitizer. Your shopping safety is our greatest concern.

October Thurs & Fri 1st-2nd, 10am-5pm, Sat & Sun 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Ohio Design Centre 23533 Mercantile Rd., Beachwood OH 44122. Questions? Call 216.245.6707.

VNTG eco chic … Put some green in your goddess

Treat yourself and your home to the most beautiful of all candles.... from BAOBOB COLLECTION. Newest colors in a variety of sizes.

Handmade vessels with discreet scents to enhance life at home. Always available at MULHOLLAND & SACHS, Eton Chagrin Boulevard, mulhollandsachs.com.

Experience the VNTG Home ecochic design vibe with a treasure hunt of their magical warehouse. Imagine, just you, a designer to help, over 800 fabrics and 60,000 square feet of furniture. An amusement park for interior design enthusiasts!

Open Monday-Wednesday by appointment, Thursday-Friday 10 a.m.

-5 p.m. VNTG Home | 1235 Marquette Street, Cleveland OH 44114 | vntghome.com | info@vntghome. com | 216.505.4322 VNTG Place | Explore our properties and services vntgplace. com | home@vntgplace.com | 216.685.7555

A New & Improved Showroom Experience We have exciting news! Our Chagrin Falls showroom recently underwent renovations, and you simply have to see the results. Time flies when you’re having fun, and after ten years in this location, we wanted to update the space to improve the overall look and experience for our customers.

What’s New? Everything power, of course! With the rise of smart home technology being such a sought-after feature, we knew it was important to improve the smart shades experience for each and every customer. Hunter Douglas PowerView Motorization is simple to operate, and yet it performs with layers of lifestyle convenience, efficiency and safety.

Enjoy a Customized Experience.

You’ll spend time trying out the products. See just how easy it is to make adjustments, save favorite scenes and customize settings within the PowerView app. Because our motorized shades can integrate with your smart home system, you’ll hear how easy it is to create the ideal atmosphere.

Design Your Home.

With this renovation, we’ve been able to make changes to improve how you experience the products. You’ll see and touch the fabrics. Full-size displays allow you to operate the features, like top down bottom up and dual shades. You’re designing the style and atmosphere of your home–why wouldn’t you want to do it in person?

Let Us Be Your Guide!

When you visit our new and improved Chagrin Falls showroom, you’ll browse products, fabrics and features.

You’ll try out the latest in smart shades and smart home integration. But the experience doesn’t end there! We have window covering specialists on-site to talk with you about your needs. We can answer questions and help direct you to collections and features that make the most sense for you and your family. We’ll be happy to guide you through the smart home features, showing you just how simple Hunter Douglas is making it to improve the experience of motorized shades.

What’s Next?

After visiting the showroom, set up your FREE inhome design consultation. This is where the styling and measurements take place. And, the best place to make final decisions about your home is always within the walls of your home! At TIMAN CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS, we don’t just want you to enjoy the window treatments once they’re in your home. We strive to make the entire experience one to remember, from beginning to end.

Neue Auctions September 26 includes a collection of Swiss cylinder music boxes and Regina disc players, very fine antique carpets, Art/Nouveau/English furniture, rare French antique posters, a Tiffany Lily lamp and fine antique oil paintings. Accepting consignments.

Neueauctions.com, 216.245.6707.

LARCHMERE ORIENTAL RUGS As Larchmere Oriental Rugs embarks on its 20th season retailing handmade oriental rugs, we want to underline our passion for high-end, top- of-the-range quality oriental rugs.

Erdogan Gezer - who has been in the business for over 40 years - chooses every single piece we hold in our store. He spends countless hours looking at thousands of rugs, in person and online, before making his selections. The emphasis is always on quality, with a focus on those rug producers using vegetable dyes and the all-important hand carded and hand spun wool. By focusing on the ingredients which go into the weaving of an oriental rug, you can be assured of the long life and durability of the end product. These rugs will outlast us all and be there for the future generations.

At Larchmere Oriental Rugs we carry an extensive and varied inventory of new, vintage and antique rugs.

These are all handmade, of wool with cotton foundations - some rugs have silk highlights. Principally we carry oriental designs although we also have a smaller selection of transitional, contemporary and abstract designs. The rugs are made all over the world: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, India and Nepal. We carry all sizes from 1’ by 1’ pieces through 12’ by 18’ feet rugs. We have both pile rugs (hand knotted) and flat weaves (hand woven). The flat weaves or “kilims” are less expensive than the hand knotted pile rugs and generally have simpler, more geometric patterns.

All these treasures need looking after. At Larchmere Oriental Rugs we offer a unique hand washing service - rugs are washed in a pool using only soap and water and dried naturally on a pulley system indoors or outside, weather permitting. We also offer repair and restoration services. We do most repairs here in our store, and send antique rugs requiring extensive restoration to Turkey.

For those in the market for an oriental rug for any room at home or at work, Larchmere Oriental Rugs will have something to suit the space. We also do custom orders for clients with particular dimension needs and especially for staircases. These take between six to eight months to complete and are guaranteed to meet those specific requirements.

We are open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m.6 p.m., Sundays from 12-5 p.m., at 12812 Larchmere Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44120. www.currentsneo.com September 17, 2020 CURRENTS B7

Northeast Ohio real estate market is HOT, according to realtors

By RITA KUEBER Three top notch local agents, Karen Eagle, Adam Kaufman and Dave Malone, agree that Northeast Ohio is part of a national trend in real estate: the residential market is hot. The National Association of Realtors reports over five and a half million homes were sold in the US in July 2020, an increase of 25 percent compared to June – an increase the country hasn’t seen since 1968.

“The market is incredible across the board,” says Dave Malone. “From modest to high-end homes, everything is moving very quickly. Houses are selling within days or weeks rather than months. Buyers are especially looking for homes that need minimal updating and are move-in ready. People want to hang their clothes in the closets and move on with life.

Homes that need work are slower to move so I recommend to my sellers to be prepared when they go on the market.”

“Anything under $400,000 in great shape is flying,” Adam Kaufman says. “There’s movement in the luxury market as well. There are certain pockets where inventory is missing, but overall, especially for first-time buyers it’s tough to find a house. Anything fixed up in the Heights

goes right into multiples.” [Multiple offers for a particular house from various buyers.]

“If a home is priced right, I’m seeing more multiple offers. It’s definitely competitive,” says Karen Eagle. “For many first-time buyers there’s a shortage of inventory.”

These professionals point to several factors causing the big surge in residential real estate.

“Inventory is short, which drives demand,” Malone states. “And interest rates are incredibly low and affordable right now.” “Money is so inexpensive to borrow now, people have a buying power greater than ever before,” Kaufman agrees. Malone also points to uncertainty regarding the pandemic and the upcoming election. “People are getting out of tight neighborhoods or downtown to have more elbow room between,” Malone says. “Many people are landing on the side of caution rather than risk, and want to have some separation from their neighbors.”

But it’s not just a local to local movement; it’s the lure of Greater Cleveland itself that has some families leaving larger cities to return.

“Suddenly people are discovering they don’t have to

live in the same place they work,” Eagle explains. “I love hearing their stories. They’re coming back to the Cleveland area from, well, insert a city, to buy something here at home.” “We have tons of people living in New York, Chicago, Texas, who are returning. Their family is here,” Kaufman adds. “Our suburbs are spread out – there’s room to roam, and the real estate here compared to many parts of the country is a true bargain.”

That idea of spreading out is important as families move into larger homes – currently places where families not only live, but work and go to school as well.

“People used to ask for pictures of the kitchen, but now they ask for pictures of the office,” Eagle says. “I hear ‘Does it have a door? Is it private? …and ‘please tell me it’s not in a basement corner.’ If sellers need to convert a spare room or bedroom into an office space, I advise they do it before listing, and encourage them to upgrade lighting and power outlets. Having a true home office now is definitely a thing.”

Of course, how buyers are touring houses has changed as well, many switching from in-person to virtual tours.

“Initially people were really nervous. I did a lot of on-

line tours and FaceTime,” Eagle says. “But people are a little more comfortable now, so when they come to a house, we have shoe protectors and hand sanitizer, and people wear masks. We ask the seller to open every door and turn on every light. It looks a little junky, but this way no one has to touch anything.”

“Before, we might have had seven different groups in a home at one time during an open house, but that’s changed,” Malone adds. “Now we escort one group through a home at a time. They enter from the front, and exit out the back. It requires diligence on the realtor’s part, but we need to accommodate these safety precautions.”

Virtually or personally, these real estate professionals are ready, willing and able to guide sellers how to present, and buyers how to obtain a desirable home.

“This is just the most incredible time to buy,” Kaufman adds. “This is by far the most interesting real estate market I’ve seen in a long time. After the fallout of 2009, there was an uptick in the market in 2011, but nothing like this. This is historic. Especially for that first-time home buyer, if you want to move, now is the time to do it.”

Payne & Payne Renovations and Design

Thinking of selling your house? Now is the right time

Often when a family decides that they would like to re-design their kitchen, they jump on Pinterest and start building an array of images that they believe is their dream aesthetic. Before too much thought is given to the aesthetics and selections, though, one must give thought to function.

This is what it means to think like a designer. Eating areas must be as functional as they are beautiful. A designer may ask the family how they intend on using their dining space, is this space meant to be formal or casual?

How many people do they typically accommodate? One may like the aesthetic of a minimalist sized dining table, but if they need to seat eight family members per meal this will not function correctly. If space together is at a premium, the designer may even suggest merging the adjacent dining room with the kitchen area to create more gathering room for the family. By merging these two spaces, island seating can become a possibility with a two-island layout. This layout, where one side functions for preparations and the other for eating, is becoming more and more common to utilize these spaces.

After discussing the functionality of a client’s space, the designer can begin to discuss the proper furnishings and selections. An example of furnishings can include the dining table and chairs. Most designers will not pick out a table and chairs that are meant to be a set, they will offer a more eclectic combination. This is meant to give a uniquely raw representation of the client’s aesthetic while providing the personal function that the client needs.

Some selections the designer will research include the flooring materials, countertops, paint and/or wallcoverings, and light fixtures. Choosing flooring is a perfect example of the functionality level needed in a space, especially a kitchen. Most commonly, hard floorings are chosen to create a kitchen. The most obvious reasoning for this is the simplicity of cleaning up spills. Another selection in terms of functionality is lighting fixtures.

Aesthetically popular today are bare bulb light fixtures, often displayed over tables or islands. These light fixtures may be the aesthetic that a client is looking for, but it is the job of designers to remind families of the functions they need in their home. Bare bulb fixtures are not only hard to look at, but they do not provide the soft, comforting light needed in a home. ~ Jill Calo with Payne and Payne Renovations and Design, 10680 Cedar Rd., Chesterland, 440.226.5040 or https://www.paynerenovations-design.com/home.

Now is a fantastic time for homeowners who are ready to make a move especially while buyer demand is so high and inventory is so low. It’s a prime time to sell!

In addition, with today’s historically low interest rates, there’s an opportunity for buyers to maintain a low monthly payment while getting more house for their money. Think move-up opportunity, more square footage, or finding the features they’re really looking for rather than doing costly renovations.

Inventory is arguably the biggest challenge for buyers in today’s housing market. There are simply more buyers actively looking for homes to purchase than there are sellers selling them, so the scale is tipped in favor of the sellers. Inventory is well below what was available last year, and the houses that do come to the market are selling very quickly.

With proper preparation, staging and competitive pricing homes will sell quickly!

During this unprecedented time, many experts agree that the housing market will lead the way to economic recovery, and today we’re seeing signs of that coming to light. With record-low mortgage rates driving high demand from potential buyers, homes are being purchased at an accelerating pace, and it’s keeping the housing market and the economy moving.

There are simply not enough houses for sale today. If you’re ready to explore the advantages of selling your house, reach out to Veena Bhupali to discuss your market. It’s a great time to move while demand for homes to buy is extremely high. VEENA BHUPALI, RE/MAX Traditions, 216.896.9204, 216,598.1477, Veenabhupali@remax.net, Veenabhupali.remax.com.

Home has never meant more. Tranquil luxury living in Pepper Pike’s gated Edgewood Trace community. New construction available now. Love where you live! EDGEWOOD TRACE, Pepper Pike, 216.245.7041 or sales@liveatedgewoodtrace.com.

Debbie Garson As evidenced by statistics and the multiple offers, we all acknowledge that this pandemic cannot dash our hopes and dreams. Young couples will still marry, young families will still want to grow, empty nesters will still want to downsize (or right size), people will still pursue career advancements which take them to a new city, and, sadly, we will all lose loved ones, forcing us to sell our/their family homes. Zoom is our “new normal”. I have virtual meetings with clients every day, all of my listings have Matterport virtual tours, and all contracts are signed via Dotloop. I was selling real estate during the 1980s when interest rates were 21% and sellers were forced to offer Purchase Money Mortgages (acting as the lender) at lower interest rates to incentivize buyers.

Sellers still had a need to sell during the recession, and buyers still wanted to build upon their dreams during that time. Today, interest rates are at an all time low.

Buyers want and/or need to purchase, and sellers know that there is little competition, making it a stronger than ever sellers’ market.

In Fred Rogers’ words “Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else”. As spoken by spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle “Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness.”

We are learning to adapt to our “new normal” in life and in business.

DEBBIE GARSON, 216.509.4275, debbiegarson@ kw.com

We’re all in this together!

Remember to shop your local businesses!

B8 CURRENTS September 17, 2020 www.currentsneo.com

INSPIRE • CREATE • INNOVATE Payne-Payne.com 440-226-5040

200 Grey Fox Run, Bentleyville. The fabulous pool and extravagant landscaping make this seem more like a resort than a home! Contact KAREN EAGLE/Howard Hanna, 216.352.4700.

Glencain Road ~ Shaker Heights, Fernway Neighborhood. Fantastic Gourmet Kitchen, Gorgeous Gardens, 5 Bedrooms ~ 3.5 Baths. Contact SUSAN DELANEY, ABR,RRS, CNE®, Howard Hanna Real Estate, 216.577.8700 or susandelaney@howardhanna.com.

Downtown Cleveland Office market stunted by the Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of life throughout the United States with the downtown Cleveland office market being no exception. It is estimated that downtown Cleveland has seen an 80 percent reduction of office workers during the pandemic.

Office trends such as unassigned seating, co-working and large “bullpens” of worker cubes have companies rethinking safe reoccupation strategies. “People are nervous about coming back to the office downtown, especially since COVID-19 cases haven’t slowed. Time will tell how this shakes out,” says Kristy Hull, managing director with Newmark Knight Frank (NKF).

On the leasing side, NKF office brokers agree that activity in downtown Cleveland from April through August was as sluggish as it has ever been. David Hollister, NKF managing director, says he has seen “zippo” office activity. “Many folks are on hold,” he adds. “I am aware of at least two larger occupiers that have executed short-term extensions.”

Hull agrees, “We had several good deals in the works and then COVID-19 hit. Multiple firms did a 12-to 18-month renewal at their current space.”

NKF Executive Managing Director Bob Nosal echoes Hollister and Hull. “I’m leasing two buildings downtown, and had one showing at each over the last several months…neither went anywhere. I also have two downtown properties for sale that have shown signs of life, so I’d say that for-sale product for users, not investors, is still moving, but the leasing market is slow.”

By contrast, NKF has seen increased interest in suburban office hubs, such as Rockside Road in Independence, as companies are investigating relocation from downtown or just the suburbs in general, presumably due to less density and lower rental rates.

NKF Vice Chairman Terry Coyne believes that it might become more expensive to lease space in the future. “Studies show that many office employees will want to work from home more often, so I think companies might lease more space per person to keep germs from spreading. However, the outlook for the rest of 2020 is uncertain. Absorption will be affected by lackluster lease signings from the past two quarters.”

Building owners, leasing brokers and tenants have injected creativity to help all sides navigate COVID-19. Some owners have worked with tenants to defer lease escalations into renewal terms, while one NKF client borrowed its own security deposit to later be paid back, a creative workaround wherein the tenant was granted relief without impacting landlord cash flow. ~ NEWMARK KNIGHT FRANK,

216.453.3027, ngkf.com/offices/Cleveland.

— By Matthew Orgovan, Research and Marketing Manager, Newmark Knight Frank It is estimated that downtown Cleveland has seen an 80 percent reduction of office workers during the pandemic. Building owners, leasing brokers and tenants have injected creativity to help all sides navigate COVID-19.

Photograph by WayUp Aerial Images

West Side Catholic Center Extends Free Food Program to Feed Children for 10 Additional Weeks As COVID-19 continues to require social distancing, the West Side Catholic Center (WSCC) through its Family Engagement Program has extended food distribution to ensure local families with children continue to receive weekend meals for an additional 10 weeks. As the Family, Food and Fun Summer Program comes to an end, a new 10-week Children Food Distribution program began Friday, September 11, to ensure at least 40 families and 120 children receive a grocery bag of food every week.

Food bags include fresh produce (fruits and vegetables), bread, peanut butter and a variety of non-perishable items containing approximately six nutritious meals per bag.

“The West Side Catholic Center is committed to assisting all who come in need of food, shelter and advocacy,” says Executive Director John Litten. “And it is especially important during these trying times to provide those in need of nourishment – especially families with children – with the sustenance they require and deserve to stay healthy and strong. By extending our food bag program an additional 10 weeks, we expect to place more than 1,200 food bags in the community.”

Jeanette Mazzola, manager of the WSCC Family Engagement Program says that the WSCC Children Food Distribution Program, with the support of Dave’s Market in Ohio City and Sanson Company, will distribute grocery bags that include soup, cereal and oatmeal, fruit snacks, macaroni and cheese, dinner pouches and canned vegetables. Family Food Boxes provided by Sanson through the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program will also be distributed.

For more information about the program, contact Jeanette Mazzola at 216.631.4741, ext. 112.

About West Side Catholic Center Since 1977, the West Side Catholic Center has offered hot meals, hospitality, clothing and household goods, emergency services, advocacy, a family shelter, housing solutions, and workforce development training to those in need at no charge, regardless of religious affiliation.

The West Side Catholic Center was established in 1977 by several area churches that saw a critical need within the community due to extreme poverty. We are a unique, private, not-for-profit agency with Catholic roots, independent of the Catholic Diocese and Catholic Charities. www.currentsneo.com September 17, 2020 CURRENTS B9

Firefighter Zach Lapuh featured in first American Lung Association Firefighter calendar Every year, hundreds of Cleveland firefighters race up hundreds of stairs in full gear weighing over 45 pounds during the American Lung Association’s in Ohio’s Fight For Air Climb at Key Tower, including Zach Lapuh.

To honor those heroes, the Lung Association has launched its inaugural 2021 Fight For Air Climb Firefighter Calendar to raise funds to support the vision of a world free of lung disease. Calendars can be pre-ordered starting today for $20 each, to be delivered in October. Each calendar features photos of our firefighters at their local Fight For Air Climb from Los Angeles and New York to Milwaukee, Miami and everywhere in between.

Lapuh was chosen as one of the Lung Association’s top Fight For Air Climb supporters nationwide. Over 10 years, the Cleveland Fire Department climb team raised

more than $30,000 for the Lung Association.

“I climb the Lung Association’s Fight For Air Climb every year to raise awareness of lung disease, which a lot of firefighters suffer from after years of inhaling smoke fighting fires,” Lapuh said. “I’m grateful that the Lung Association’s calendar raises money to help support firefighters’ lung health.”

Respiratory diseases remain a significant health issue for firefighters and emergency responders. The Lung Association mission hits close to home with firefighters because of increased exposure to gases, chemicals and smoke in the line of duty. This exposure may result in the development of chronic issues, including lingering cough, hoarseness, asthma, and allergies and in more extreme cases, lung or bronchial cancer. One of the many

Three Gilmour Academy Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists Three Gilmour Acadexpected to be named fiemy seniors – Eric Brandt nalists. Of those finalists, ’21, of Willoughby Hills; 7,600 will earn the Merit Mollie Edmondson ’21, of Scholar designation and Stow; and Joseph RottingNational Merit Scholarhaus, of Willoughby Hills ships totaling more than were notified that they have $30 million. been named National Merit Brandt About Gilmour AcadEdmondson Rottinghaus Semifinalists. emy More than 1.5 million juniors took the qualifying test Gilmour Academy is a Catholic, independent, coedu– the PSAT – last fall, and of those 1.5 million students, cational, college-preparatory school. It is sponsored by only 16,000 students nationally earned the Semifinalist the Congregation of Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Ind., and distinction. Semifinalists can then advance to the Final- offers a Montessori program beginning at 18-months-old ist level of the competition after submitting a detailed and a Lower School, Middle School and Upper School. scholarship application. The National Merit Scholar- A boarding program is offered to students in Grades 7 ship Corporation states that the student must “have an through 12. It is located at 34001 Cedar Road in Gates outstanding academic record throughout high school, be Mills, Ohio. For more information about Gilmour Acadendorsed and recommended by a high school official, emy, visit www.gilmour.org and follow Gilmour on and write an essay.” Approximately 15,000 students are Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

pollutants found in smoke is particle pollution, which is a mix of tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in air so small that they enter and lodge deep in the lungs. Firefighters can inhale smoke and a wide range of chemicals that may be present in a burning building.

The Fight For Air Firefighter Calendars will include fire-safety tips and statistics on how fires affect our lung health, as well as tips for how to train for your next Fight For Air Climb. Additionally, Lung Association volunteers and donors will be featured in the calendar to highlight how they acted nimbly and helped keep the mission of saving lives through improving lung health going stronger than ever.

For more information about the Fight For Air Firefighter Calendar visit Lung.org/calendar.

About the American Lung Association The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Gold-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.

Cleveland Philanthropist Lorraine Dodero Encourages Community to Step Up and Give with $30,000 Challenge Grant Through its Go Red for Women movement, the American Heart Association (AHA) brings awareness to and raises funds to eradicate the #1 health threat for women: heart disease. Even during the pandemic, heart disease and stroke remain the #1 and #5 causes of death nationally.

Now, one of the American Heart Association’s most inspirational volunteer leaders, Lorraine Dodero of the Sam J. Frankino Foundation and the Corinne L. Dodero Foundation, is chairing the 2021 Go Red for Women Movement campaign and generously committing a $30,000 gift to the AHA to inspire other Clevelanders to give. During the months of September and October, every dollar raised up to $30,000 will be matched by Dodero, doubling the overall impact of each donation.

Says Dodero: “Often, women are the backbone of our communities, and our families. When we reach women, we tend to reach entire families and support them in making positive decisions about their health. During this challenging time, our heart and stroke survivors face higher risks of contracting COVID-19 and suffering complications from the virus.”

Adds Valerie Hillow Gates, the American Heart Association’s Executive Director: “The need to support

our most vulnerable populations has never been more urgent. Our work has pivoted over the last 5 months and we have emerged with a clarity of purpose about how much our role in the community is needed. 40% of those hospitalized due to COVID-19 are stroke survivors or people with heart disease. The AHA is investing in new research grants and training healthcare workers, while we continue the fight against heart disease and stroke.”

Those wishing to give to the Lorraine Dodero Challenge Great should act now by visiting www.heart.org/ watchmestepup or contacting the Go Red for Women Movement’s Senior Director Julie Gotschall, julie. gotschall@heart.org or 216.619.5159.

About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

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Fabulous home set on eight wooded acres for sale in Gates Mills

Beautifully landscaped and meticulously maintained, this five-bedroom house is movein ready.

By RITA KUEBER 7900 Fox Hill Drive is the whole package – a terrific house on a cul-de-sac, over eight wooded acres, lush, all-season landscaping, and an in-ground pool in a spectacular setting.

The combination of all these amenities is more than the sum of its parts – it’s one lucky family’s idyllic private resort.

As attractive as the house is, residents will probably spend much of their time out back. The setting is irresistible. The upper deck off the kitchen and great room overlooks a perfectly placed koi pond, embellished by plantings. The in-ground pool is surrounded by a brick patio, a private sunning nook over there, an outdoor kitchen and wide eating area over here. Picture as many refreshmentsipping hours spent here as you like.

Right off the brick patio is access to the lower walkout level. This is a kid’s paradise with lots of space for a game room, media center, and play area. There’s also a brick fireplace, storage room and a kitchenette. This level has an exercise room and full bath and steam shower. The interior staircase leads up to the main floor kitchen and back hall.

The house is meticulously crafted with hardwood trim throughout. The two-story foyer is graced by a curving wood staircase and a stunning chandelier. To the left is a formal dining room that has hardwood floor and ceiling and chair rail molding for a classic, elegant look. Off the foyer on the right is a private wood-paneled den/library that has built-in, glass fronted cabinets.

Both rooms have access to the extra-large gourmet kitchen. For the chef, the space has high-end appliances, granite countertops, and an island with a flat surface range built in. An entire wall of wood cabinets offers loads of storage. There’s also a wall oven and a grill top and hood, set in a brick accent wall. The kitchen is open to a rounded, sunny eat-in area offering a beamed ceiling, window seats, and access to the outdoor deck. The kitchen also leads to a back staircase, laundry/mud room, and also to the attached four-car garage.

Running along the back of the house is a great room that offers several seating areas, a fireplace, crown molding, a wet bar, and large sliding doors that open to the upper back deck. Off the great room is the first-floor master: a high-ceilinged bedroom, large closets and an en suite bath that has two sinks, vanity and step-in shower. Upstairs are four spacious bedrooms all connected to Jack and Jill baths. One bedroom has a fireplace and could be used as a second office.

There’s one additional aspect to this property that’s both rare and valuable. Across from the attached garage

The landscaped backyard features a koi pond, an in-ground pool and brick patio, all in a private, wooded setting. A staycation every day. is a separate building, creating an auto court with a drain running lengthwise. This out building has water, electricity and heat, and can hold 14 cars – ideal for a hobbyist or collector. However, given its size and shape this building could be converted into anything – studio, gym, playhouse, or workshop. The possibilities are endless, and there is an unfinished upper level to the building as well.

7900 Fox Hill Drive has 6,753 square feet of space on 8.6 acres. The house has five bedrooms, four full and two half baths, with central air and a generator. Located in the Mayfield School District, the house is just minutes from highway access, hospitals, shopping and dining. At press time the house is listed at $995,000, and annual taxes of $23,115. For more information or for a private tour, contact Ryan Young at 216.378.9618 or Ryan@TheYoungTeam.com. The Young Team is part of Keller Williams Greater Metropolitan.

The spacious kitchen has several prep and work spaces, top-notch appliances and a large eat-in area with access to the outside deck.

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Tilt-A-Whirl outdoor sculpture to be discovered at Holden Forests & Gardens Holden Forests & Gardens (HF&G) has opened a towering, playful outdoor sculpture experience at the Holden Arboretum. Patrick Dougherty’s Tilt-a-Whirl sculpture is the latest in the Stickwork series, featured in more than 300 locations around the world from Scotland to Japan to Brussels, and all over the United States.

Artist Patrick Dougherty describes the inspiration behind the Tilt-a-Whirl piece: “It looks like a flying wall, moving from one side to the other. You can go inside and into cubbies, it will be interesting to explore inside and out. We hope it looks like it’s really flowing - implied motion.”

Stickwork is being presented by support from Fleet Response and Key Private Bank. Pre-registration is required, and Stickwork is included with the price of admission. Adults are $15 and children three to 12 years old are $10. For more information visit holdenarb.org.

“We are thrilled to bring this whimsical outdoor sculpture to Northeast Ohio,” said Jill Koski, president and CEO of Holden Forests & Gardens. “Patrick Dougherty’s

outdoor artistry celebrates our connections to the natural world, and we are all appreciating and relying upon the benefits of nature more and more these days.”

Dougherty and his son began to create the structures made completely from willow sticks and branches on Monday, August 10. They worked daily with volunteers to complete the intensive creative project throughout the month of August. Arboretum visitors can view the work in the Spruce Knoll. The universally appealing creation will be on view at the arboretum for at least one year, until it naturally deteriorates.

“While touring the Holden Arboretum, I was struck by what a wonderful public resource it is, especially in these times,” said Dougherty. “It offers people contact with the natural world in a refreshing way. “ About Patrick Dougherty Born in Oklahoma in 1945, Dougherty was raised in North Carolina. He earned a B.A. in English from the University of North Carolina in 1967 and an M.A. in Hospital and Health Administration from the University

of Iowa in 1969. Later, he returned to the University of North Carolina to study art history and sculpture.

Combining his carpentry skills with his love of nature, Patrick began to learn more about primitive techniques of building and to experiment with tree saplings as construction material. In 1982 his first work, Maple Body Wrap, was included in the North Carolina Biennial Artists’ Exhibition, sponsored by the North Carolina Museum of Art. In the following year, he had his first one-person show entitled, Waitin’ It Out in Maple at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in WinstonSalem, North Carolina.

His work quickly evolved from single pieces on conventional pedestals to monumental scale environmental works, which required saplings by the truckloads. Over the last thirty-some years, he has built over 300 of these works, and become internationally acclaimed.

Thirty-eight of these works are collected in “Stickwork,” a monograph-memoir, published by Princeton Architectural Press. He also is the subject of a film

documentary called “Bending Sticks.” Dougherty has received numerous awards, including the 2011 Factor Prize for Southern Art, North Carolina Artist Fellowship Award, Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant, Henry Moore Foundation Fellowship, Japan-US Creative Arts Fellowship, and National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship.

More information is available at www.stickwork.net.

Holden Forests & Gardens is made up of two of Northeast Ohio’s most important environmental and cultural institutions — the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden — whose mission is to connect people with the wonder, beauty, and value of trees and plants, to inspire action for healthy communities. The 14th largest public garden in the country, Holden Forests & Gardens has over 17,000 member households and an annual attendance of over 350,000 for whom we strive to provide inspirational and educational visitor experiences. For more information, visit holdenarb.org. and cbgarden.org.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Professional Realty “Good to Know.” ™

PEPPER PIKE

Gorgeous home in Barrington of Aurora overlooking 15th fairway. Two story foyer opens to banquet size dining room. Fireside living room. Gourmet kitchen w/breakfast area opens to family room. Masteron-main w/spa-like bathroom. Three additional bedrooms up w/two bathrooms. Enjoy outdoor living relaxing on the stone terrace in the outdoor Jacuzzi or in the screened porch. Private scenery includes magnificent landscaping and manicured yard! $789,000 | Jenn Johnson | 216-223-8120

Ever wanted to live on “Golden Pond”? Now is your chance with this magnificent custom built home situated on over 16 majestic acres. Over 7,000 finished square feet which includes a spectacular walkout basement with full kitchen and theater room, leading to an amazing outdoor living space with patio, in-ground pool with retractable cover, stocked ponds, and so much more! Your private resort is waiting for you! $1,250,000 | Seth Task | 216-276-1626

LIS NEW TIN G

3 bed 2.2 bath. One of a kind ranch home with in-ground pool! Great room with vaulted ceilings and wall of windows! Chef’s Kitchen w Maple cabinetry, granite counters, roll out pantry! Library with built ins and fireplace. Combined dining and living room. Deluxe Master with dressing area and glamour bath with oversized whirlpool tub!

Two add’t bedrooms with hardwood and hall bath!

Finished lower level ideal for play area, media room or workshop. $574,900 | Sharon Friedman | 216-338-3233

4 bedroom 5.1 bath. Amazing Four bedroom, multi level on appx 1.7acres on prime Cul de Sac street! Vaulted ceilings in LR and DR and updated Maple kitchen w granite! Delightful breakfast area overlooks deck and fabulous pool! Totally redone Master suite with oversize bedroom with balcony, walk in dressing room and incredible bathroom, very Zen! Two more bedrooms up each w en suite baths! Bedroom and bath on first and on lower level, too! 3 plus car garage! $599,900 | Sharon Friedman | 216-338-3233

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Come Meet Our Agents & Find Out Why We Are: 5 bed, 5.3 bath. Classic younger, Brick Georgian on prime Shaker Boulevard location! Marble foyer w/curved staircase, spacious LR w/walnut parquet floors, library w/ built ins. Fam room w/marble fireplace, walnut paneling & flooring, wet bar! Dining rm sliders to the patio. Large Chef’s kitchen partly (2017) updated, stainless steel appliances!

Upstairs MBR Suite w/dressing area, large walk-in closet, master bath. 4 more beds & 3 baths upstairs. Finished LL w/living suite, full bath, exercise room and media room. 3 car garage, fenced yard! $519,000 | Sharon Friedman | 216-338-3233

4 bed, 3.1 bath. “French Chateau” Colonial on Shaker’s only cul-de-sac! Open main floor plan includes living room, dining room, sun room & family room all w/white-washed Oak floors and access to patio & back yard w/Gazebo!

Eat-in kitchen w/marble center island, breakfast bar, built-in shelves, sliding barn doors! 2 story wood paneled library w/floor to ceiling windows, fireplace, wood spiral staircase!

Upstairs Master w/sitting area, en suite bath!! 3 more bedrooms & 2 full baths up, along w/second floor laundry room. Fin. basement w/rec room & exercise area! $699,900 | Sharon Friedman | 216-338-3233

5 bed, 4.2 bath. Semi-Ranch. Vaulted living/dining room w/fireplace, French doors to secluded stone patio. Inviting Family room w/windows looking over back yard. Gourmet Eat-in Kitchen has center island w/breakfast bar, planning desk, Corian counters, and top of the line appliances.

Sun porch off kitchen. Library on 1st w/en-suite full bath.

1st floor Owners wing features sumptuous en-suite bath.

Upstairs are 4 sizable bedrooms, 2 full baths. Amazing finished LL w/Rec room, custom Terrazo floor, fireplace and wet bar w/wine cooler and butler’s pantry. $849,900 | Sharon Friedman | 216-338-3233

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